Effect of heat treatment on the wet abrasion resistance of WC-10Co4Cr coatings deposited onto stainless steel by HVOF

Heat treatments were carried out at 350, 450, 550 and 650°C on WC-10Co4Cr coatings deposited by High-Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) onto AISI 420 stainless steel substrate in order to study their influence the abrasive wear resistance of coatings. The thickness microhardness measured while microstructure was analysed with aid OM, SEM XRD techniques. X-ray diffraction results revealed presence W2C phase as-sprayed coatings, WO3 CoWO4 phases after heat treatments. No significant degradation observed treated 350°C compared Coatings temperatures above 450°C, other hand, showed changes related density, surface hardness. best resistance, 550°C presented worst performance due microstructural defects oxidation processes.