Role of the strengthening phases in abrasive wear resistance of laser-clad NiCrBSi coatings

The influence of the strengthening phases on the tribological characteristics (wear intensity, specific work of wear, coefficient of friction) and the wear mechanisms in two-body abrasion tests with abrasives of different hardnesses (corundum Al2O3, ~2000 HV and silicon carbide SiC, ~3000 HV) has been investigated for PG-SR2 (Cr23C6, 1000–1150 HV), PG-10N-01 (Cr7C3, 1650–1800 HV; CrB, 1950–2400 HV), and 75% PG-SR2 + 25% TiC (TiC, 2500–2900 HV; (Cr,Ni)23(C,B)6 and (Ti,Cr)(C,B), ~2000 HV) coatings. The dominant role of the strengthening phases (compared with the role of the metal matrix) in the abrasive wear resistance of laser-clad NiCrBSi coatings has been estimated. Different wear mechanisms have been identified and, accordingly, different levels of coatings wear resistance have been achieved depending on the ratio between the hardness of the strengthening phases (carbides, borides, carboborides) and abrasive particles.