Cold spray deposition of a WC-25Co cermet onto Al7075-T6 and carbon steel substrates Original Research Article

This work focussed on the deposition of wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant WC-25Co cermet powders on carbon steel and aluminium (Al7075-T6) substrates by cold gas spraying (CGS). The unique combination of mechanical, physical and chemical properties of WC-Co cermets has led to their widespread use for the manufacture of wear-resistant parts. X-ray diffraction tests were run on the powder and coatings to determine possible phase changes during the spraying process. The bonding strength of the coatings was measured by adhesion tests (ASTM C633-08). The sliding (ASTM G99-04) and abrasive (ASTM G65-00) wear resistance of the coatings were also studied. Corrosion resistance was determined by electrochemical measurements and salt fog spray tests (ASTM B117-03). CGS achieved thick, dense and hard WC-25Co coatings on both aluminium alloy Al7075-T6 and carbon steel substrates, with excellent tribological and electrochemical properties. We thus conclude that this method is very competitive compared with conventional thermal spraying techniques, giving thick, dense and hard coatings on both aluminium alloy Al7075-T6 and carbon steel substrates, with excellent tribological and electrochemical properties.