Abstract
Twelve commercially available WC-Co powders with different average carbide sizes (0.2, 2, and 6 µm) and cobalt contents (8, 12, 17 and 25 wt.%) were sprayed on carbon steel substrates using High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) spraying Characterization of the coatings showed that the average carbide sizes and carbide volume contents in the coatings were lower than those of feedstock powders. Hardness and fracture toughness of the coatings were investigated using indentation techniques. Young’s modulus was measured by an ultrasonic technique. The hardness and Young’s modulus decreased with increasing cobalt content, while fracture toughness slightly increased. The effect of carbide size on the hardness showed no specific trend. These behaviors were discussed with the help of microstructure observations of the coatings by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis. Using an improved HVOF process with a gas shroud could result in less decomposition of the powder and higher fracture toughness.
