The Influence of Boron Carbide on the Mechanical Properties and Bonding Strength of B4C/Nickel 63 Coatings of Brake Disc

Abstract

Metal-based ceramic composite laser cladding offers substantial compensations in enhancing brake disc surface characteristics. Laser cladding was utilized to combine B4C powder (10–40%) with Ni 63 powder to make Boron Carbide (B4C)/Nickel 63 composite coatings. For the subsequent experiments, the specimens were ground and polished. Bonding strength, fracture toughness, and residual stress were examined with the B4C content. The fracture morphologies were checked using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was observed that the bonding strength of various coatings might approach 175 MPa. Best bonding was observed when the B4C level was between 15% and 30%. The porousness of the coating continuously raised as B4C content increased. The coating’s maximum permeability was 5.6% after the B4C level reached 30%. As the B4C level in the coating grew, the coating’s compression resistance decreased. The bonding strength was within desirable limits, and compression resistance was consistently strong. The material bending strength increased when the B4C materials were reduced below 35%; at this level, the bending strength was highest. The bending strength was covered by the optimal range of bonding strength. Good bonding strength and mechanical characteristics were achieved when B4C content was 20% to 30%. The 20% B4C coating had the smoothest fracture morphologies and the strongest bonding strength, making it the most stable. For the estimation of total matrix deformation and corresponding coating stress on coated brake discs, Ansys software was utilized to create a static structural model.