Influence of Y2O3 on the microstructure and tribological properties of Ti-based wear-resistant laser-clad layers on TC4 alloy

Multi-track Ti-based wear-resistant composite coatings were fabricated on TC4 alloy surfaces using laser-clad TC4 + Ni45 + Co–WC mixed powders with different Y2O3 contents (0, 1, and 3 wt%). The microstructure, microhardness, and tribological properties of the coatings were characterised using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, electron probe X-ray micro analyser, microhardness tester, and friction and wear testing apparatus. The results showed that the number of cracks on the coating surfaces gradually decreased with the addition of Y2O3 and that residual Co–WC powders existed in the coating subsurfaces. The phase composition of the coatings with different Y2O3 contents remained unchanged and was mainly composed of reinforcing phases of TiC, TiB2, Ti2Ni, and matrix α-Ti. With the addition of Y2O3, the coating microstructure was remarkably refined, the direction characteristic of the TiC dendrites obviously weakened, and the nucleation rate significantly increased. When the added Y2O3 was 3 wt%, a large amount of TiB2–TiC-dependent growth composite phases precipitated in the coating. The two-dimensional lattice misfit between (0001)TiB2 and (111)TiC was 0.912%, which indicated that TiB2 and TiC formed a coherent interface. When the amount of Y2O3 was increased, the microhardness of the coatings gradually decreased, and the wear volume of the coatings first increased and then decreased. Under the effect of the TiB2–TiC composite phases, the wear resistance of the 3 wt% Y2O3 coating was optimal. The 3 wt% Y2O3 coating friction coefficient was the lowest, and the wear mechanism was abrasive wear.