Microstructure and Dry-Sliding Tribology of HVOF-Sprayed NiCrBSi/WC-Co Coatings on AZ91D

Abstract

High-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF)-sprayed NiCrBSi coatings containing 0, 10, 30, and 50 wt.% WC-Co were evaluated on AZ91D magnesium alloy to determine how the discrete reinforcement level affects surface topography, phase constitution, Vickers microhardness, dry-sliding friction, mass loss, and wear-track microchemistry. As-sprayed surfaces were characterized by three-dimensional profilometry; coating cross-sections and worn surfaces by optical microscopy and SEM/EDS; phase constitution by XRD; and mechanical response by HV0.1 indentation. Dry-sliding tests were performed at 10, 30, and 50 N over 100-1000 m. Increasing WC-Co content raised Sa from 8.8 +/- 0.3 to 13.0 +/- 0.5 & micro;m and Vickers microhardness from 776 +/- 4 to 959 +/- 5 HV0.1. XRD indicated a gamma-Ni-based matrix containing boride/carbide constituents, while WC, W2C, and Co became increasingly prominent in the reinforced coatings. Boride assignments are based on diffraction evidence, whereas B and C EDS signals were treated semi-quantitatively. The 50 wt.% WC-Co coating exhibited the lowest mass loss and mean coefficient of friction at every load. Its mean friction coefficients were 0.31, 0.35, and 0.41 at 10, 30, and 50 N, corresponding to reductions of 40.1%, 38.9%, and 36.2% relative to AZ91D. At 1000 m, its mass-normalized wear rate indices were 9.0 & times; 10-4, 4.0 & times; 10-4, and 5.3 & times; 10-4 mg N-1 m-1, respectively. Post-wear mapping showed the largest field-scale W-Co-rich fraction in the 50 wt.% coating; however, isolated spectra containing more than 94 wt.% Mg are compatible with local coating penetration/substrate exposure and/or Mg-rich debris. The 50 wt.% composition therefore provided the best combined response among the four tested levels, while intermediate compositions are required to identify a continuous-composition optimum.