Reciprocating sliding wear behavior of the heat-treated WC-12Co coatings

Abstract

WC-Co coatings were produced on SS 410 plates and subjected to heat treatment at different temperatures (from 300 to 900 °C). The microstructural studies and structural analysis of the coatings before and after heat treatment were carried out by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. From the Vickers indentation method, hardness values were measured, and higher microhardness was observed for the coatings after heat treatment. The sample that was heat-treated at 750 °C exhibited the highest hardness. From the sliding wear test results, the wear resistance of the coatings was observed as increased after the heat treatment. However, it was found that the heat-treated coatings at 600 °C exhibited higher wear resistance. Cracking and fracture were the dominant wear mechanisms observed for the heat-treated coatings, along with coating delamination and oxidation.