Fabrication and microstructural characterization of nano-structured WC/Co coatings

In the present investigation, the microstructure of nano tungsten carbide/cobalt (WC/Co) coating layers fabricated by detonation-gun spraying has been studied. Phase identification and three-dimensional distribution of constituent elements have been accomplished by using an ultra high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) and a three-dimensional atom probe tomography (3D-APT), respectively. The microstructures of WC/Co coating layer containing superfine carbides were observed in various forms, i.e., unmelted, partially melted and fully melted regions. TEM and APT results revealed that the WC phase has been decomposed into crystalline W2C, W and complex amorphous phases during high temperature detonation spraying and rapid quenching process.