Effect of WC mass fraction on the microstructure and frictional wear properties of WC/GH3536 matrix composites fabricated by selective laser melting

• SLM-made WC/GH3536 enhances H13 steel’s high-temp wear resistance 37% through grain refinement. • 30 % WC content yields min wear rate 3.27 mm 3 /N·m via lattice dendrites strengthening bonds and stress relief. • 30% WC maximizes wear resistance with oxide layers and refined grains. WC/GH3536 composite powders with different WC mass fractions were melted on the H13 surface by Selective Laser Melting (SLM). The defects, microstructure and component diffusion at the interface were also analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that the composite with 30 % WC content has the best high-temperature wear resistance with a wear rate of 3.27 mm 3 ·N −1 ·mm −1 . The high-temperature wear resistance of the composite is improved by 37 % compared to H13.