Influence of substrate properties on the impact resistance of WC cermet coatings

This research delivers a generic understanding of the design and integrated performance of the coating-substrate systems under impact loading, and comprehends the understanding of underpinning failure mechanisms. Repeated severe impacts to the coatings often result in poor performance by cracking and delamination from the coating-substrate interface. The durability of coatings thus depends on the choice of coating and substrate materials, coating deposition process, and service conditions. The design of thermal spray coatings thus requires an optimization of these parameters. This investigation provides insight into the role of coating and substrate properties on the impact resistance of coated materials, and maps the relationship between the impact resistance of WC cermet coatings on a variety of substrates. Results indicate that the delamination resistance of the coating during impact loading not only depends upon the hardness and roughness of the substrate material, but, more importantly, substrates with a higher work-hardening coefficient indicate a higher delamination resistance. © ASM International.