Structure and abrasive wear of composite HSS M2/WC coating

Features of phase-structure formation and abrasive wear resistance of composite coatings WC-M2 steel worn against tungsten monocarbide have been investigated. It was established that adding 20 wt. WC to the deposited powder mixture leads to the increase in M ₆C carbide content. These carbides show a multimodal size distribution consisting of ∼5.9 μm eutectic carbides along the grain boundaries, ∼0.25 μm carbides dispersed inside the grains. Also a greater amount of metastable austenite (∼88 vol.) is found. The high abrasive wear resistance of these coatings is provided by γ → α′ -martensitic transformation and multimodal size distribution of reinforcing particles.