Effect of aged treatment on improving the performance of HVAF WC–Cr3C2–Ni coating on crystallization roller

The thermal shock resistance and high-temperature performance of WC–Cr₃C₂–Ni coatings on the surface of the crystallization roll after aged treatment were investigated in this study. The aging treatment at 320 ℃ for 2.5 h facilitated the diffusion of Cu element from the C17200 beryllium copper substrate toward the coating side of WC–Cr₃C₂–Ni coating, thereby enhancing the bonding between the coatings and substrates. After the aged treatment, the internal structure of the C17200 substrate changed from a dendritic structure to an equiaxed crystal structure, the hardness increased from 225.71 Hv_0.5 to 406.52 Hv_0.5 (80.4 % increased), and the wear resistance increased.

Although the aging treatment reduced the hardness of the coating slightly (from 1257.58 Hv_0.5 to 1155.16 Hv_0.5, a decrease of 8.1%) and wear resistance (the coefficient of friction, from 0.335 to 0.312, a decrease of 6.9%). However, in the thermal shock test, the thermal shock resistance of the coating after aging treatment was increased from 19 times to 20 times (5.3% increased). However, the thermal shock failure cracks between the coatings and the substrates were transferred from the substrate part to the joint part of the two, which effectively avoided the waste of the crystallization roller substrate in the maintenance process. This research effectively reduces the purchase and maintenance costs of steel mills in actual production and provides theoretical support for cost reduction and efficiency increase in other HVAF (high-velocity air fuel) coating applications.