Investigation of Oxide Formation on Sliding Interfaces of WC-CoCr in Relation to Friction and Wear

This study investigates the effects of operating environment and temperature on the friction behavior of self-mated WC-CoCr coatings in sliding contact. Nickel superalloy substrates were coated with 86WC-10Co-4Cr powder using a warm spray gun. Coating cross-sections and surfaces were examined by SEM, XRD, EDX, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Tribological tests were conducted on a high-load tribometer at various temperatures in air, nitrogen gas, and distilled water. Test samples were examined by SEM and XPS, revealing wear patterns and elemental compositions while providing insights on oxide formation.