Microstructure and Interface Bonding Strength of WC-10Ni/NiCrBSi Composite Coating by Vacuum Brazing

Abstract

WC flexible cloth was fabricated by rolling WC powder that was pre-mixed with a nano-scale binder. BNi-2 braze alloy was used to braze the WC flexible cloth to a workpiece surface in a vacuum to form a compact composite coating. The composite coatings with different percentages of WC (wt.%, 30 %, 50 % and 80 %) have been successfully brazed onto Q345 steel substrate. Microscopic morphology and interfacial structure were characterized in terms of porosity, segregation and the distribution of WC particles. The bonding strength between the coating and the substrate was evaluated by shear test. The results showed that the segregation of WC particles appeared in all three coatings. With the increase of WC content in the coating, the segregation phenomenon was gradually reduced, and the WC particles were more closed. Furthermore, the thickness of the coating and matrix reaction layer was narrower, and more holes were found in the coating. Fracture of the 30 % and 50 % WC coatings was mainly plastic fracture, and the fracture of the 80 % WC coating was mainly brittle fracture accompanied by local plastic fracture. The maximum bonding strength of the coating to the substrate was determined to be 302 MPa.

Keywords

• brazing
• wc-10ni/nicrbsi metal cloth
• composite coating
• microstructure