Fabrication of nanostructured WC-Co coating with low decarburization

Three kinds of thermal spraying feedstock powders with different densities and sizes of WC particles were prepared using the in-situ synthesized nanocrystalline WC-Co composite powder as raw material. The WC-Co coatings were then fabricated by the high velocity oxy-fuel thermal spraying. The phase constitution of the as-sprayed coatings and microstructures of the feedstock particles and the coatings were analyzed. The results show that the coating prepared using the feedstock powder with a relatively higher density and smaller WC particle size exhibits simultaneously low decarburization and high density, and further enhanced properties. The present study suggests an effective method to fabricate the nanostructured WC-based cermet coatings with high properties.