Rolling contact fatigue of post-treated WC-NiCrBSi thermal spray coatings

Test results reveal that performance of the coating was dependant on the microstructural changes due to post-treatment. Coatings heat-treated at 1200 °C displayed superior performance in RCF testing over the as-sprayed coatings at all stress levels (2, 2.3, 2.7 GPa) with emphasis on RCF performance at lower stress load of 2 GPa, where no failure occurred. Improvement in RCF performance was attributed to the diffusion between the carbides and matrix resulting in improved strength. At higher levels of contact stress, failure was surface initiated, and was attributed to initiation and propagation of micro-cracks at the edge of rolling contact region which led to coating delamination.