Microstructure and sliding wear behavior of nanostructured Ni60–TiB2 composite coating sprayed by HVOF technique

A nanostructured Ni60–TiB2 composite coating (Ni60 is a brand of Ni-based self-fluxing alloy with a hardness of HRC60) was sprayed on steel substrate by high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) process using high energy ball milled powders. Its sliding wear resistance at room-temperature was evaluated by ball-on-disc testing. For comparison, conventional Ni60–TiB2 composite coating was prepared by HVOF using mechanically mixed Ni60 and TiB2 powders and tested under the same conditions. The results show that the nanostructured composite coating has excellent mechanical properties and sliding wear resistance due to the microstructural homogenization and the well preserved nanostructure characteristic of the ball milled powders. Adhesive and abrasive wears are found to be responsible for the wear down mechanisms of the nanostructured Ni60–TiB2 composite coating.