Plasma jet clad γ/Cr7C3 composite coating on steel

A wear-resistant γ/Cr7C3 composite coating was fabricated on substrate of commercial Q235 plain carbon steel by plasma jet cladding using Ni–Cr–C elemental powder blends. The microstructure, microhardness and wear resistance of the coating were evaluated and the wear mechanisms were discussed. The results show that the plasma jet clad composite coating has a rapidly solidified microstructure consisting of primary coarse blocky carbide Cr7C3 and the inter-blocky tough γ/Cr7C3 eutectic matrix and is metallurgically bonded to the steel substrate. The composite coating possesses high hardness and excellent wear resistance under the dry sliding wear test conditions.