Effect of rare earth on WC-12Co coatings prepared by thermal spraying

WC-12Co coatings with different content of nano-sized rare earth were prepared by high velocity oxy-fuel thermal spray(HVOF) on 45 steel substrate.In order to study the effect of nano-sized rare earth on WC-12Co coating,microhardness,bonding strength and wear resistance of the coatings were tested,and XRD analysis was carried out.The results show that appropriate nano-sized rare earth can greatly improve the coating hardness and bonding strength,and it can also restrain decarburization of WC particles,make the microstructure fine.The coating with 1.5wt% nano-sized rare earth presents the best wear resistance.