Development and analysis of tribological behavior of microwave processed EWAC + 20% WC10Co2Ni composite cladding on mild steel substrate

•Developed EWAC + 20% WC10Co2Ni composite cladding via novel microwave hybrid heating.•The clads were formed with good metallurgical bonding with the substrate.•The hard carbides in skeleton like structure were observed in soft nickel matrix.•Clads exhibited an average Vickers microhardness of 980 ± 52 HV.•Developed clads were ∼128 times better wear resistant to mild steel substrate.

The present work is based on the surface modification of mild steel by depositing composite cladding of EWAC + 20% WC10Co2Ni powder through novel technology of hybrid microwave heating. Claddings of approximately 300 μm thickness were developed in domestic microwave applicator at 2.45 GHz frequency and 900 W of power. Microstructural analysis and mechanical characterizations were carried out on the developed clads using relevant techniques of XRD, SEM, EDS, Vickers microhardness and wear tests. Pin on disk tribometer was used to evaluate the tribological properties (weight loss) of developed clads under the different loadings and sliding velocities at ambient temperature. Results revealed that clads are formed with good metallurgical bonding with melting and diffusion of substrate material. Developed clads showed the presence of hard carbides in the form of a skeleton like structure within a soft nickel matrix. The wear resistance of composite clads increased by approximately 128 times in comparison to mild steel and average Vickers microhardness of 980 ± 52 HV has been reported by microwave processed clads.

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