Evaluation of microstructure and mechanical properties of TiC/TiC-steel composite coating produced by gas tungsten arc (GTA) coating process

• TiC-steel composite coating produced on AISI304 steel by GTA coating process.
• Wear resistance of the coating depends on applied current and scan speed.
• Abrasive wear resistance of the coated surface improved up to fifty times.

TiC/TiC–steel composite layer was produced on AISI 304 steel by gas tungsten arc (GTA) coating process to improve its hardness and wear resistance properties. Effect of current and scan speed on the coating geometry and corresponding microstructure was investigated from the SEM images. Pin-on-disc type abrasive wear test was performed to assess the tribological behavior of the coating. At low GTA current and high scan speed, a distinguished layer of TiC deposited that exhibits significantly higher hardness and high wear resistance than the steel substrate. Conversely, at high current and low scan speed produced TiC–steel composite layer offers relatively low hardness and lower wear resistance. The wear resistance improved five to fifty times depending on the coating microstructure.