Structure and Abrasive Wear of Composite HSS M2/WC Coating

Abstract

Features of phase-structure formation and abrasive wear resistance of composite coatings “WC-M2 steel” worn against tungsten monocarbide have been investigated. It was established that adding 20 wt.% WC to the deposited powder mixture leads to the increase in M6C carbide content. These carbides show a multimodal size distribution consisting of ~5.9 μm eutectic carbides along the grain boundaries, ~0.25 μm carbides dispersed inside the grains. Also a greater amount of metastable austenite (~88 vol.%) is found. The high abrasive wear resistance of these coatings is provided by γ→α′-martensitic transformation and multimodal size distribution of reinforcing particles.