Microstructure and wear resistance of TaC reinforced Ni-based coating by laser cladding

The in situ synthesized TaC particulate reinforced Ni-based composite coating was fabricated on a mild steel by laser cladding of powder mixture of Ni60 alloy powder with (Ta2O5 + C)-doping. The microstructure and wear resistance of the TaC/Ni60 composite coating were investigated. It is shown that the coating is bonded metallurgically to the substrate and has a homogeneous fine microstructure containing both approximate cubic TaC particle and acicular chromium carbide uniformly dispersed in the dual phase matrix of γ(Ni) solid solution and eutectic of Cr3C2, Fe2B with γ(Ni). Compared to a Ni60 coating, the hardness of the TaC/Ni60 composite coating was enhanced by a factor of 1.38, could achieve a Vicker microhardness of Hv0.31100. And the wear rate in a block on ring test against hardened steel was reduced by a factor of five. This is attributed to the presence of in situ synthesized TaC particles and their well distribution in the coating.