Laser Cladding of WC/T-800 Cermet: Fabrication, Microstructure and Wear Properties

This study fabricated a WC/T-800 cermet coating layer with Co-Mo-Cr (T-800) powder and WC powder using laser cladding, and analyzed its microstructure, hardness and wear properties. For comparison, casted bulk T-800 was used. Laser cladded WC/T-800 cermet coating layer showed circular WC phases in the Co matrix, and dendritic laves phases. The average laves phase size in the cermet coating layer and bulk T-800 measured as 7.9 µm and 60.6 µm, respectively, indicating that the cermet coating layer had a relatively finer laves phase. Upon conducting a wear test, the cermet coating layer added with WC showed better wear resistance. In the case of laser cladded WC/T-800 cermet coating layer, abrasion wear was observed; on the contrary, the bulk T-800 showed pulled out laves phases. Based on the above findings, the WC/T-800 cermet coating layer using laser cladding and the relationship between its microstructure and wear behavior were discussed.