WC-Reinforced Nickel–Aluminum Bronze Coatings: Tribological and Corrosion Behavior

This study investigates the tribological and electrochemical corrosion behavior of laser-clad nickel–aluminum bronze (NAB) coatings reinforced with WC particles (0, 8, 16 wt.%). Through microstructural characterization and phase analysis, it was found that in the NAB coating containing 16% WC, the WC particles and carbides were uniformly distributed, serving as a reinforcing scaffold. During the friction and wear process, they effectively reduced the contact area between the counter ball and the NAB matrix to a certain extent, smoothing the wear process and resulting in a more stable friction coefficient. Electrochemical testing demonstrates that WC addition significantly enhances corrosion resistance: NAB + 8%WC exhibits a low corrosion current density (icorr), the highest polarization resistance, and the densest protective film. The dual mechanisms—grain boundary blocking and ion channel obstruction—reduce selective Al/Fe leaching and minimize Cl− penetration. The 8% WC formulation optimizes the electrochemical performance, providing excellent corrosion resistance in a simulated marine environment.