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Characterization of Nanostructured WC-Co Deposited by Cold Spraying

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Abstract

Nanostructured WC-Co coating was deposited by cold spraying using a nanostructured WC-12Co powder. The critical velocity for the particle to deposit was measured. The coating microstructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The coating hardness was tested using a Vickers hardness tester. The deposition behavior of single WC-Co particle was examined. WC particle size was measured for comparison of deposit properties to that of sintered bulk. The result shows that the nanostructured WC-Co coating can be successfully deposited by cold spraying using nanostructured powders. The coating exhibited a dense microstructure with full retention of the original nanostructure in the powder to the coating. The test of microhardness of the coating yielded a value of over 1820 Hv0.3, which is comparable to that of sintered nanostructured WC-Co. The deposition behavior of WC-Co powders as superhard cermet materials in cold spraying and powder structure effects is discussed.

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Acknowledgment

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No. 50171052; No.50571080).

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Correspondence to Chang-Jiu Li.

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This article is an invited paper selected from presentations at the 2007 International Thermal Spray Conference and has been expanded from the original presentation. It is simultaneously published in Global Coating Solutions, Proceedings of the 2007 International Thermal Spray Conference, Beijing, China, May 14-16, 2007, Basil R. Marple, Margaret M. Hyland, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Chang-Jiu Li, Rogerio S. Lima, and Ghislain Montavon, Ed., ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2007.

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Li, CJ., Yang, GJ., Gao, PH. et al. Characterization of Nanostructured WC-Co Deposited by Cold Spraying. J Therm Spray Tech 16, 1011–1020 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11666-007-9096-6

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