Influence of the Substrate’s Shape Complexity on the Coating Properties Produced by HVOF Spraying of Fine WC-12Co (2-10 µm) Powders

This study investigates the influence of component geometry, particularly the outer radius of curved surfaces, on the hardness and porosity of HVOF-sprayed WC-Co coatings as well as the deposition rate. A fine agglomerated and sintered WC-12Co powder of spherical shape was sprayed on steel substrates. Process parameters were held constant, while the radius of curvature was varied between 5 and 40 mm. The results show that HVOF spraying is better for depositing fine particles on curved surfaces than other spray processes, although the deposition rate decreases compared to flat substrates.