Structural evolution, phase transition and high-temperature tribological properties of Cr ₃ C ₂ reinforced WC-10Co4Cr coatings by laser cladding

Purpose The aim was to investigate the effect of Cr 3 C 2 mass fraction the high-temperature tribological performance of laser cladded WC-10Co 4 Cr coating, in which the Cr 3 C 2 played the role in enhancing wear resistance. Design/methodology/approach The WC-10Co 4 Cr-xCr 3 C 2 (x = 5%, 10% and 15%) were prepared on H13 steel using laser cladding, and their coefficients of friction and wear rates at 500°C were investigated using a ball-on-disc wear tester. Findings The WC-10Co4Cr-xCr 3 C 2 powders are composed of WC, Co 3 W 3 C, CoCr and Cr 3 C 2 phases, and the defects such as pores and cracks are reduced by the addition of Cr 3 C 2 . The coefficient of friction and wear rats of WC-10Co4Cr-xCr 3 C 2 coatings are decreased with the Cr 3 C 2 mass fraction, showing that the addition of Cr 3 C 2 significantly enhances the tribological properties of WC-10Co 4 Cr coating. The wear mechanism is adhesive wear and oxidation wear, and the Cr 3 C 2 plays the roles of friction reduction and wear resistance, which provides valuable insights into optimizing the performance of WC-10Co 4 Cr coating. Originality/value The Cr 3 C 2 was first added into the laser cladded WC-10Co 4 Cr coating, which improved its high-temperature tribological performance. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-12-2024-0471/