Effect of CeO₂ on high-temperature wear resistance of WC/Fe-based coatings

ABSTRACT

In this study, the WC reinforced Fe-based composite coatings with various CeO₂ contents were fabricated on the H13 hot-working die steel by laser cladding. The high-temperature wear resistance of composite coatings was analysed by friction-abrasion testing machine, white light interferometer, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The microstructure and microhardness were investigated by SEM and Vickers hardness tester. The influence mechanism of CeO₂ on microstructure and wear resistance was explained. The results showed that appropriate CeO₂ could effectively refine the microstructure of coatings, and affect the crystal morphology. The microhardness of composite coatings was about 4–5 times that of the die steel substrate. Affected by microstructure and microhardness, the Fe-based composite coatings with CeO₂ exhibited a higher high-temperature wear resistance than the substrate.

KEYWORDS:

• Composite coatings
• CeO₂
• WC
• wear resistance
• laser cladding
• H13 steels

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the science and technology development project of Yantai high-tech zone: Research on key technologies of 3D printing of automobile mould.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).