HVOF Coating of µ-WC-Metal Powder and Laser Heat-Treatment of the Coating for the Improvement of Turbo Shaft Material

A hybrid surface treatment was performed to improve the surface properties and the durability improvement of turbo shaft material Inconel718. A micron sized (µ) WC-metal powder (86% WC 10% Co 4% Cr) was coated onto a substrate surface using HVOF thermal spraying, and the coating was heat treated by a CO2 laser. With the HVOF coating of the powder onto the substrate, the surface hardness of substrate increased approximately 300% from 399 Hv to 1260±30 Hv, and further increase of approximately 40% from1260±30 Hv to 1820±100 Hv by laser heating the coating for 0.6 s. Porosity of coating decreased more than five times from 2.2±0.3% to 0.4±0.1% by laser heating. According to the reciprocating sliding test, friction and wear behavior of coating improved by coating for both sliding surface temperature of 25°C and 450°C. Therefore, the HVOF coating and laser heat treatment of coating are recommended for the durability improvement of turbo shaft materials.