Mechanical and tribological properties of plasma-sprayed Cr3C2-NiCr, WC-Co, and Cr2O3 coatings

Mechanical properties such as Young’s moduli and fracture toughness of plasma-sprayed Cr₃C₂-NiCr, WC-Co and Cr₂O₃ coatings were measured. The tribological properties of the three kinds of coatings were investigated with a block-on-ring self-mated arrangement under water-lubricated sliding. Furthermore, the influences of the mechanical properties on the tribological properties of the coatings were also examined. It was found that the Young’s moduli, bend strengths and fracture toughness of the coatings were lower than the corresponding bulk materials, which may be attributed to the existence of pores and microcracks in the coatings. Among the three kinds of coatings, the magnitude of wear coefficients, in decreasing order, is Cr₃C₂-NiCr, WC-Co and Cr₂O₃, and the wear coefficient of Cr₂O₃ coating was less than 1 × 10⁻⁶mm³N⁻¹m⁻¹. The wear mechanisms of the coatings were explained in terms of microcracking and fracturing, and water deteriorated wear performance of the coatings. The higher the fracture toughness and the lower the porosity and length of microcracking of the coating, the more the wear-resistance of the coating.