Parametric Study of an HVOF Process for the Deposition of Nanostructured WC-Co Coatings

摘要

Nanocrystalline WC-Co coatings were deposited by high velocity oxyfuel from commercial nanostructured composite powders. Processing parameters were optimized for maximal retention of the nanocrystalline size and for minimal decarburation of the ceramic reinforcement. Thermochemical and gas-dynamical properties of gas and particle flows within the combustion flame were identified in various operating conditions by computational fluid-dynamics (CFD) simulation. Significant improvements of the mechanical properties of the coatings were obtained: a decrease of the friction coefficient was measured for the nanostructured coatings, together with an increase of microhardness and fracture toughness.