Thermal fatigue mechanism of WC particles reinforced steel substrate surface composite at different thermal shock temperatures

In order to provide significant references and theoretic base for the design and practical application of surface composites with high thermal fatigue performance, WC particles reinforced steel substrate surface composites were fabricated using vacuum evaporative pattern casting. And thermal fatigue behaviors of WC particles in the composites were investigated by stereomicroscope, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the thermal fatigue failure of the WC particles in the composite was influenced by the combination of thermal stress and oxidation at high temperatures. When the thermal shock temperature was low (500 °C), the thermal stress was the major factor to influence the thermal fatigue failure. However, the oxidation particles played an important role with the increasing thermal shock temperature. The results might supply significant guides to the design of particles reinforced surface composites.