Influence of Powder Structure on the Micro-Hardness and Fracture Toughness of Cold-Sprayed WC-12Co Deposit

In this study, WC-12Co powders with multimodal-sized WC particles were prepared by ball milling and deposited onto stainless steel substrates by cold spraying. Microhardness and fracture toughness were measured on cross-sections by the indentation approach. Coatings produced from powders with small carbide particles, resulting from long milling times, were found to exhibit high microhardness and high fracture toughness. Deposits sprayed with high porosity powders produced by cold compaction had low microhardness, but high fracture toughness.