Influence of the HVOF gas composition on the thermal spraying of WC-Co submicron powders (-8 + 1μm) to produce superfine structured hard material coatings

摘要

Deep-drawing is a widely used sheet metal forming process in the aircraft and automotive industry. The manufacturing of modern parts with complicated shapes and curvatures requires forming tools with highest shape accuracy even at complex surface geometries. However, the application of novel, high-strength sheet metals combined with a continuous increase in productivity impose high tribological demands on forming tools and finally lead to increasing wear. In order to minimize the high costs for the repair and maintenance of such tools it is crucial to enhance their service life by an appropriate surface modification, which is able to preserve the high shape accuracy. Conventional coatings obtained by thermal spraying of coarse grained feedstock materials are not suitable to achieve this aim. In this collaborative study, the feeding and HVOF spraying of WC-Co submicron powders (-8 + 1μm) have been investigated to manufacture superfine structured, wear resistant near-net-shape coatings with improved macroscopic properties and smooth surfaces. Special equipment for the powder feeding and a novel HVOF flame spraying system designed by Thermico (optimized for the processing of fine-scaled powder fractions) have been employed. Correlations related to the process dynamics at varying HVOF gas compositions, the thermokinetic particle behavior in-flight and corresponding coating properties have been analyzed.