Deformation Behaviors of Cold-Sprayed WC-Co Particles

Abstract

In the present work, the WC-Co particles with different sizes and contents of WC particle were deposited on the stainless and WC-Co substrate in different accelerating gas temperatures. The deformation mechanisms of incident WC-Co particles and impacted substrates, and especially their interactions were characterized via scan electron microscopy (SEM) observations of both surface morphologies and cross-sectional microstructures of individual splats, and splat/substrate interface with the assistance of focus ion beam (FIB). The effects of feedstock powder structure, i.e., WC particle size and Co content, and temperature of accelerating gas on plastic deformation were comprehensively studied. It was revealed that the splats on stainless steel exhibited ellipsoid shape with a comparative integrated contour similar to original powder, and there were some revers on substrate around splats. In contrast, splats on WC-Co substrate exhibited more flattened pie shape with some ejectas on its periphery in the radial direction. The more curved interface convex to stainless steel substrate appeared compared to that of WC-Co substrate. Deformation of WC-Co splats was enhanced by the increment of substrate hardness and increment of Co binder and reduction of WC size of incident particles.