Microstructures and properties of submicron structural WC-12Co coatings deposited by HVOF

In this study, WC-Co powder with WC submicron grain size of 0. 7 - 0. 9μm was used as feedstock powder to deposit wear resistant coating by home-made T J-9000 HVOF system. The deposition efficiency of the feedstock powder was examined. Influences of the High Velocity Oxy-Fuel （HVOF） spraying parameters on the microstructures, phase compositions, microhardness, and wear resistance of sprayed coatings were investigated. The deposition efficiency of the feedstock powder was very high, and reached to 58%. The sprayed coatings were very dense, and their porosities were lower than 1% and could be lowered than 0. 42% with optimal spraying parameters. According to the X-ray Diffraction （ XRD ） analysis, the phase compositions of the sprayed coatings consisted of WC, Co, W2 C, and Co6 W6 C. W appeared at high flame power. The average microhardness of the coating was 1 100 HVo 1 and had reversely linear relationship with the porosity of coatings. The weight loss of the counter wear ring GCrl5 was 20 times than that of the sprayed WC-Co coating. At the load of 15 kg and rotational speed of 200 r/min of GCr15 counter wear ring, the friction coefficient was 0. 68 in the dry wear conditions. It was concluded that the sprayed submicron structural WC-12Co coating had good wear resistance.