In situ synthesis WC reinforced iron surface composite produced by spark plasma sintering and casting

In situ synthesized WC reinforced iron based composites were prepared on a surface of 45# steel by means of spark plasma sintering and casting. The miscrostructure of this material were investigated with the help of SEM, XRD and microhardness. Results showed that the WC particles were uniformly distributed in the iron matrix on the surface of cast steel. The volume fraction and the mean grain size of WC particles in the composite layer were ∼28% and 12 μm, respectively. A perfect metallurgical bonding between the surface composite layer and substrate was generated. From the surface of sample to that of 45# steel (matrix), the hardness decrease gradually. The microhardness of composite layer is about 2.4 times higher than that of 45# steel.