Effect of Inconel 625 and reinforced phase WC on Tribo-corrosion properties of duplex stainless steel 2507

Laser cladding technology is used to apply two types of coatings, Inconel 625 and Inconel 625 + 20% WC, onto duplex stainless steel 2507. A comprehensive comparison is made on the hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance between the substrate material and the two coatings. Additionally, a detailed analysis of their friction and corrosion mechanisms is conducted. The results indicate that the addition of WC effectively refines the grain size and increases the coating’s compactness, leading to a 38.5% hardness improvement in the Inconel 625 + 20% WC coating compared to the substrate. Regarding friction and corrosion performance, the Inconel 625 + 20% WC coating exhibits the highest friction coefficient and the lowest wear volume, demonstrating superior wear resistance. Furthermore, the wear morphology of the Inconel 625 + 20% WC coating is the most uniform, featuring a smaller damage area and minimal tribo-corrosion damage. In electrochemical static tests, the Inconel 625 coating exhibits the best corrosion resistance, followed by the Inconel 625 + 20% WC coating and the 2507 substrate. The high nickel content in the Inconel 625 coating contributes to its excellent corrosion resistance. However, the addition of WC slightly decreases the corrosion resistance but significantly improves friction performance.