THE EFFECT OF WC-12CO POWDER PARTICLE SIZE ON PROPERTIES OF A HIGH VELOCITY OXYGEN-FUEL SPRAYING COATING

ARYSTANBEK KUSSAINOV, Arystanbek Kussainov, Nurtoleu Magazov, Undira Abizhanova, Rashid Kuanishbay

Abstract. In the petroleum industry, erosion and corrosion of critical components such as valves and seat rings cause serious operational challenges. To minimize these problems, thermal spray coatings are widely used, especially those created using high velocity oxygen flame (HVOF) technology. These coatings are widely recognized for their high wear resistance and ability to perform effectively under extreme conditions. This study investigates the effect of powder particle size distribution on the structural, mechanical and tribological properties of WC-12Co coatings produced by HVOF. Three powder size fractions are considered in the study: 0-20 μm, 30-40 μm and 40-50 μm. Stainless steel substrates were coated and the resulting coatings were analyzed for porosity, hardness, wear resistance and microstructure using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hardness measurements and tribological tests. The results showed that finer powder fractions resulted in denser coatings with lower porosity and higher hardness values reaching 890 HV for the 40-50 μm fraction. Tribological tests showed that coatings from the 40-50 µm fraction exhibited the highest wear resistance. These results emphasize the importance of selecting optimal powder fractions to improve the performance of WC-12Co coatings, making them ideal for aerospace and petroleum applications where durability and wear resistance are critical

Keywords: WC-12Co coatings, High-Velocity Oxygen-Fuel Spraying (HVOF), wear resistance, friction coefficient.