Fine-particle slurry wear resistance of selected tungsten carbide thermal spray coatings

The surface degradation of tungsten carbide based thermal spray coatings when exposed to fine-particle slurry abrasion has been investigated. The coatings that were studied contain binder-phase constituents consisting of either nickel or cobalt. The coatings were deposited onto test cylinders using a detonation gun device. After applying approximately 0.15 mm thickness of thermal spray coating, the coatings were ground, then diamond polished to achieve surface roughnesses of 0.03 μm Ra or less. The coatings were exposed to a three-body abrasive wear test involving zirconia particles (less than 3 μm diameter) in a water-based slurry. Results show that preferential binder wear plays a significant role in the wear of these tungsten carbide coatings by fine abrasives. In the comparison presented here, the coating containing nickel-based binder with a dense packing of primary carbides was superior in terms of retaining its surface finish upon exposure to abrasion. The coating containing a cobalt binder showed severe surface degradation.     

Machining of sintered steel under different lubrication conditions

Cutting experiments of sintered steel Fe–2Cu–0.8C under different lubrication/cooling conditions and with different tool materials were performed in order to clarify the reasons for the low machinability of the sintered steel, and investigate the applicability of minimum quantity of lubricant (MQL) to the machining of sintered steel. As a theoretical approach to the short tool life in machining sintered steel, the impacts to the cutting edge caused by micro-voids were theoretically modeled, and it was revealed that the cutting edge suffered from impacts at a very short interval causing high cycle fatigue. Extremely short tool life in dry machining of sintered steel already used for wet machining proved that coolant definitely increased the stress amplitude in high cycle fatigue. Application of the air jet to a tool showed the positive effect in reducing tool wear. This indicated the possibility that micro-cracks nucleated by high cycle fatigue were healed by oxidation. MQL cutting with small amount of oil and air jet is proved to be acceptable for machining sintered steel from the results of cutting experiments using uncoated and coated carbide and cermet tools. Finally, it is confirmed that thick coating of a carbide tool is effective for dramatically improving the machinability.     

钴基合金-碳化钨复合涂层材料耐磨性能的研究

采用真空熔烧法制得钴基合金—碳化钨复合涂层材料,借助扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射仪等先进的测试手段对涂层的组织结构和表面形貌进行观察分析。应用盘销式摩擦磨损试验机对不同碳化钨质量分数的复合涂层材料和淬火态45钢进行了磨损试验。结果表明:在相同试验条件下,复合涂层的耐磨性显著高于淬火钢,且其耐磨性随碳化钨质量分数的增加而提高:淬火钢的耐磨性随着载荷的增加迅速降低,而复合涂层的耐磨性则变化不大。     

Friction and wear behaviour of sintered steels submitted to sliding and abrasion tests

Fe–C–Mo and Fe–C–Cr steels were sintered by PM processes carried out using different values of temperature and pressure, leading to different microstructures and density values. Flat specimens were submitted to tribological tests in order to evaluate their behaviour under both dry sliding and abrasive wear conditions. A flat-on-cylinder tribometer was used for the sliding tests, while a micro-scale ball cratering device was used for the abrasion tests. The dry sliding wear resistance of the PM steels was mainly influenced by the composition and sintering conditions. In this regard, the best behavior was observed for the more hardenable Fe–C–Mo steels with higher Mo content, sintered under conditions giving rise to bainitic microstructures. A determining role was also played by the porosity content and pore shape: reduction in porosity (obtained by increasing the sintering temperature and the compacting pressure), as well as an increase in pore roundness, led to a significant improvement in the resistance to sliding wear. A mild oxidative wear regime were observed for all the sintered steels under relatively low values of the applied load, while an increase of the applied load led to a delamination wear regime. The resistance to abrasive wear was low for all the tested steels, irrespective of composition and sintering cycle.     

Abrasion of cemented carbides by small grits

The abrasion properties of a series of cemented carbides with different carbide grain sizes, different amounts and types of binder phases have been investigated under varied conditions. Abrasion results from other works are also incorporated for comparison reasons. The results are interpreted in the light of a previously published model for the abrasion properties of multiphase materials, although this is the first time this model is applied to materials with very high amounts of hardphase. It is confirmed that the abrasion resistance of tungsten carbide–cobalt materials may vary considerably, also for fixed amounts of metal and hardphase. Not only the wear resistance level but also the ranking depends both on the test conditions and on the microstructure. It is further showed that some nano-crystalline materials posses a wear resistance superior to those of the pure carbide material.     

Early stages of wear of copper steel, and electroless nickel against

The early stages of wear of copper, mild steel, an alloy steel, and electroless nickel in the as-deposited and heat-treated conditions, with a load of 50 g against a dry nitrided steel wheel with a surface speed of 0.28 m s⁻¹, were measured using a Talysurf and a precision relocation technique, and the worn surface was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Wear occurred mainly by abrasion. Extensive ploughing with cooper resulted in metal removal and redeposition on the surface. Rapid and severe removal of patches of material occurred witb mild steel, and fragments of the metal were redeposited on the surface. As-plated electroless nickel formed many small cracks in the wear tracks. These were absent in the heat-treated coating when surface damage occurred by brittle fracture of the Ni₃P. Profilometry results taken during the wear tests were analysed and related to the microscopical results and the wear processes.     

超音速火焰喷涂WC-Co涂层耐磨性研究

利用超音速火焰喷涂（HVOF）工艺制备了WC-Co涂层，测定了涂层孔隙率、显微硬度及干摩擦磨损过程中涂层材料失重，得出涂层干摩擦因数随时间的变化关系，分析了涂层摩擦磨损机制。结果表明，WC-Co涂层致密，平均孔隙率为1．29％，显微硬度达1140HV（测试载荷2．94N），干摩擦条件下材料失重低于电镀Cr镀层2个数量级；摩擦初期，干摩擦因数迅速增加，主要磨损特征是粘结相富Co区的犁沟切削，摩擦中后期，摩擦副间实际接触面积增大，摩擦因数变化较小，磨损趋于稳定。WC-Co涂层的主要磨损机制是疲劳磨损和犁沟切削。     

Abrasive wear resistance of starch consolidated and sintered high speed steel

The abrasive wear resistance of starch consolidated (SC) and super solidus liquid phase sintered (SLPS) M3/2 high speed steel (HSS) samples have been evaluated by a two-body micro-abrasion test (low stress abrasion), using 6 μm diamond abrasive particles, and a three-body abrasion test (high stress abrasion), using significantly larger abrasive particles of blast furnace slag (600 HV) and silicon carbide (2400 HV), respectively. In the tests a commercial powder metallurgical (PM) HSS was used as a reference material.The results show that the microstructure of the SC and SLPS HSS samples is strongly dependent on the sintering temperature used. With increasing temperature the microstructure ranges from a porous (5% porosity) relatively fine grained low temperature sintered microstructure to a fully dense relatively coarse grained high temperature sintered microstructure with eutectic carbides/carbide networks. However, despite the pronounced microstructural differences displayed by the as-sintered HSS microstructures these show a relatively high abrasive wear resistance, comparable with that of a HIPed HSS reference, both under low and high stress abrasion contact conditions. The characteristic features of the low and high temperature sintered microstructures, i.e. the pores and coarse eutectic carbides/carbide networks, only show a limited impact on the wear rate and the wear mode (dominant wear mechanism). The results obtained imply that near net shaped components manufactured by starch consolidation and super solidus liquid phase sintering might be of interest in tribological applications.     

Erosion–corrosion assessment of materials for use in the resources industry

The erosion–corrosion properties of a range of ferrous-based materials that are currently being used or have potential for use in the resources industry have been assessed using a slurry pot erosion–corrosion (SPEC) test rig that has the capability of establishing the separate components of erosion, corrosion and synergy.Testing was performed, at 30 °C, in an aqueous slurry containing 35 wt% AFS 50–70 silica sand and a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Erosive action was supplied through high-speed rotation of a rubber-lined impeller.Erosion–corrosion performance of materials evaluated was related to composition/microstructure and hardness. Test data correlated with available service experience.The results showed that the cast Cr white irons with (i) a structure that was essentially a duplex stainless steel containing a distribution of hard carbides and (ii) a near eutectic Cr white iron exhibited the highest erosion–corrosion resistance of the materials tested. The evaluation of the Cr white irons also highlighted the influence of Cr and C levels on the E–C properties of these materials.E–C assessment of selected carbon steels confirmed that the erosion-only rates and synergistic levels showed a general decline with increasing carbon content and hardness. As expected, a low C steel pipe product displayed very mediocre erosion–corrosion behaviour as a consequence of its very low intrinsic corrosion resistance and inferior wear properties. This reflected service experience, however, such products are still being used, due to the comparatively low initial cost.A TiC particle-reinforced AISI 316 stainless steel exhibited an almost 45% improvement in the E–C resistance, when compared with an AISI 316L stainless steel.     

Assessment of the erosion resistance of steels used for slurry handling and transport in mineral processing applications

The wear environment of steels used for containing, transporting and processing erosive mineral slurries is often such that fluid borne particles form a layer moving at high speed across the wearing surface. Information on the performance ranking of such materials is limited, particularly with respect to the influence of steel hardness and microstructure on the resistance to erosion. This is particularly important for the oil sands industry of Northern Alberta where handling and processing of essentially silica-based solids results in extremely severe wear conditions. This paper presents slurry erosion data obtained on 11 commercially available wear resistant plate and pipeline steels with hardness values up to 750 HV. These data were obtained using a Coriolis erosion tester operated at 5000 rpm with an aqueous slurry containing 10 wt.% of 200–300 μm silica sand particles.

The Coriolis erosion tester was selected because it provides a low-angle scouring action that simulates the erosive conditions encountered in oil sands and tailings pipeline transport and in some related processing operations. Results show that this test method is able to discriminate clearly between the erosion resistance of these steels, expressed in terms of specific energy (the energy necessary to remove unit volume of test material), with the most erosion resistant steel being more than five times superior to the least resistant. A graphical relation between steel hardness and erosion resistance is given. A comparison is also made between slurry erosion data and the performance of the materials in the ASTM G65 dry sand rubber wheel (DSRW) sliding abrasion test. Comments on the influence of the macro- and microstructures of the steels on their wear behaviour are included.     

Effect of temperature and load on three-body abrasion of cermets and steel

The effect of temperature and load on three-body abrasion resistance has been examined for stainless steel, Cr₃C₂-Ni cermet, plain WC-Co hardmetal and yttria stabilized zirconia doped WC-based composites. Series of tests at various tribo-conditions were performed on a recently developed device. Coefficient of friction and materials response to abrasive actions have been analyzed and positive effect of zirconia addition on materials wear resistance has been shown. The low wear rates of ZrO₂ containing cermets are due to lower susceptibility of zirconia to transgranular crack propagation, smaller mean free path between ceramic grains and formation of lubricating glazed silica-rich layer.     

Comparative Study of Thermally Sprayed Coatings Under Different Types of Wear Conditions for Hard Chromium Replacement

The tribological properties of part surfaces, namely their wear resistance and friction properties, are decisive in many cases for their proper function. To improve surface properties, it is possible to create hard, wear-resistant coatings by thermal spray technologies. With these versatile coating preparation technologies, part lifetime, reliability, and safety can be improved. In this study, the tribological properties of the HVOF-sprayed coatings WC–17%Co, WC–10%Co4%Cr, WC–15% NiMoCrFeCo, Cr₃C₂–25%NiCr, (Ti,Mo)(C,N)–37%NiCo, NiCrSiB, and AISI 316L and the plasma-sprayed Cr₂O₃ coating were compared with the properties of electrolytic hard chrome and surface-hardened steel. Four different wear behavior tests were performed; the abrasive wear performance of the coatings was assessed using a dry sand/rubber wheel test according to ASTM G-65 and a wet slurry abrasion test according to ASTM G-75, the sliding wear behavior was evaluated by pin-on-disk testing according to ASTM G-99, and the erosion wear resistance was measured for three impact angles. In all tests, the HVOF-sprayed hardmetal coatings exhibited superior properties and can be recommended as a replacement for traditional surface treatments. Due to its tendency to exhibit brittle cracking, the plasma-sprayed ceramic coating Cr₂O₃ can only be recommended for purely abrasive wear conditions. The tested HVOF-sprayed metallic coatings, NiCrSiB and AISI 316L, did not have sufficient wear resistance compared with that of traditional surface treatment and should not be used under more demanding conditions. Based on the obtained data, the application possibilities and limitations of the reported coatings were determined.     

ULSI制造中铜化学机械抛光的腐蚀磨损机理分析

以超大规模集成电路(ULSI)芯片多层互连结构制造中的关键平坦化工艺——铜化学机械抛光(Cu—CMP)为研究对象，针对Cu—CMP中存在的抛光液的化学腐蚀作用和磨料的机械磨损现象，采用腐蚀磨损理论分析了Cu—CMP材料去除机理。提出铜CMP的材料去除中存在着机械增强的化学腐蚀和化学增强的机械磨损，并分析了Cu—CMP的静态腐蚀材料去除、机械增强的腐蚀去除与化学增强的机械去除机理。     

A scanning electron microscope study of attrition wear in tungsten carbide taper pin reamers

The wear of tungsten carbide taper pin reamers used to ream holes in a composite structure of aluminium alloy plate overlaying a plate of ultra-high strength steel was examined under the scanning electron microscope. The predominant process of wear was by attrition, which involved the mechanical detachment of individual or groups of tungsten carbide grains from the reamers by both the swarf and workpiece material.This process of attrition wear was initiated by the removal of the cobalt binder phase, resulting in the undermining and subsequent removal of tungsten carbide grains. A mechanism is described for explaining how the cobalt binder phase is initially removed, and the means by which tungsten carbide grains are then removed are discussed. Consequent on the removal of tungsten carbide grains some cobalt binder phase attached to these grains is also removed, and this subsequently becomes an important mechanism of cobalt binder phase removal.     

Investigation of micro-scale abrasion–corrosion of WC-based sintered hardmetal and sprayed coating using in situ electrochemical current-noise measurements

The micro-scale wear–corrosion interactions of WC-based sintered hardmetals and sprayed coatings are typically investigated by comparing the wear-rates in corrosive environments with neutral (pH 7) conditions and inferring electrochemical activity. However, for a greater understanding of the wear–corrosion interactions, there is a need to examine the repassivation kinetics during micro-abrasion tests under different pH conditions. This paper details in situ electrochemical current-noise measurements performed using a modified micro-abrasion tester to elucidate these wear–corrosion interactions for pH 7–13 conditions for sintered WC–5.7Co–0.3Cr and sprayed WC–10Co–4Cr specimens. Electrochemical measurements and SEM micrographs of worn surfaces are used to detail the degradation process. Discussion will focus on the wear–corrosion interactions present under neutral and alkaline conditions for sintered and sprayed specimens and the influence of microstructure on the electrochemical activity will be detailed.     

The wear of ultrafine WC–Co hard metals

The wear performance of ultrafine-grained tungsten carbide–cobalt (WC–Co) hard metals during three-body abrasion and particle erosion has been evaluated and compared to that of similar conventional coarser grained hard metals. The tungsten carbide grain size varied between 0.5 and 3 μm with cobalt contents ranging from 6 to 15%. Silica particles were used in both forms of testing. Erosion was carried out at 60 ms⁻¹ at an impact angle of 75° and abrasion at a velocity of 0.5 ms⁻¹ and a load of 50 N.

The wear resistance of the ultrafine grades was found to be at least double that of the closest conventional fine grained hard metals. These increases in wear performance are considerably higher than any corresponding increase in hardness which is, at most, 25% and is not achieved at the expense of fracture toughness which is maintained at a similar level to that of conventional fine grained hard metals. The increase in wear resistance coincides with a change in the mechanism of material removal. Sub-micron materials experience ductile deformation and bulk removal of material whilst coarser grades display more localised response with extensive fragmentation of the WC grains.     

超音速火焰喷涂碳化钨钴合金涂层对橡胶密封件的磨损研究

通过磨合试验,比较了超音速火焰(HVOF)喷涂碳化钨钴合金涂层与传统的含氰镀铬镀层与橡胶密封件对磨时的磨损情况.结果表明:HVOF喷涂碳化钨钴合金涂层具有良好的耐磨性和致密性,始终保持较良好的表面状况,对非金属密封件具有良好的适应性.     

Tribological behaviour and wear mechanism of MoS2–Cr coatings sliding against various counterbody

MoS₂–Cr coatings with different Cr contents have been deposited on high speed steel substrates by closed field unbalanced magnetron (CFUBM) sputtering. The tribological properties of the coatings have been tested against different counterbodies under dry conditions using an oscillating friction and wear tester. The coating microstructures, mechanical properties and wear resistance vary according to the Cr metal-content. MoS₂ tribological properties are improved with a Cr metal dopant in the MoS₂ matrix. The optimum Cr content varies with different counterbodies. Showing especially good tribological properties were MoS₂–Cr8% coating sliding against either AISI 1045 steel or AA 6061 aluminum alloy, and MoS₂–Cr5% coating sliding against bronze. Enhanced tribological behavior included low wear depth on coating, low wear width on counterbody, low friction coefficients and long durability.     

A contribution to the surface analysis and characterisation of HVOF coatings for petrochemical application

The appropriate selection of bulk materials and coatings of valve components is an important factor for the economic success of oil and gas production activities in the petrochemical field. Materials and coatings are important because particle erosion and surface wear are associated to corrosion by hydrogen sulphide during oil and gas flow. The wear of high pressure valves of gas system will lead to pollution, safety problems and cost increases. The most common solution of these problems is the deposition of hard materials as tungsten carbide or chromium carbide by thermal spray. These coatings are deposited by high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process to obtain a very high hardness with excellent cohesion and adhesion. Tungsten carbide cobalt–chromium based coating, chromium carbide nickel–chromium coating as well as Inconel 625 have been adopted in the specifications of petrochemical companies and their behaviour and wear, erosion and corrosion properties are reported in the literature.

This paper addresses the experimental study, surface analysis and functional characterisation of HVOF coatings innovative for the specific application such as NiAl and composite material WC/intermetallic compounds containing Ni, Cr, Co and Mo. These coatings have been systematically submitted to corrosion and functional tests based on the determination of the behaviour of the coatings in H₂S and CO₂ atmosphere and to wear and erosion according to standard ASTM G75-95 (slurry test); material loss and surface damage have been determined; the coatings have been completely characterised from the point of view of the structure (morphology, porosity, hardness, wear) and of the surface properties by means of a prototype 3-dimensional (3-D) stylus micro-geometrical surface analysis system; their corrosion and functional behaviour have been compared with the behaviour of the above mentioned coatings.

The slurry test allows a clear discrimination among the performances of analysed coatings. Namely, WC/Mo compound, because of its carbide content, shows fairly good behaviour in an erosive environment and higher erosion resistance than Inconel 625 and NiAl; all the tested coatings show similar behaviour in a corrosive environment.     

Friction and wear properties of bronze–graphite composite under water lubrication

Bronze–graphite composite was prepared using powder metallurgy. The friction and wear behaviors of the resulting composites in dry- and water-lubricated sliding against a stainless steel were comparatively investigated on an MM-200 friction and wear tester in a ring-on-block contact configuration. The wear mechanisms of the bronze–graphite composite were discussed based on examination of the worn surface morphologies of both the composite block and the stainless steel ring by means of scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersion spectrometry and on determination of some typical elements on the worn surfaces by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that the friction coefficient was higher under water lubrication than that under dry sliding and it showed margined change with increasing load under the both sliding conditions. A considerably decreased wear rate of the bronze–graphite composite was registered under water-lubricated sliding than under dry sliding, though it rose significantly at a relatively higher load. This was attributed to the hindered transfer of the composite onto the counterpart steel surface under water-lubricated sliding and the cooling effect of the water as a lubricant, while its stronger transfer onto the steel surface accounted for its higher wear rate under dry sliding. Thus, the bronze–graphite composite with much better wear-resistance under water-lubricated sliding than under dry sliding against the stainless steel could be a potential candidate as the tribo-material in aqueous environment.