Effect of W content on the microstructure and properties of Cu-Fe alloy

The relationship between the microstructure and properties of laser-clad Cu-Fe alloys with different W contents was investigated. As the content of W increased, the size of the Fe core free in the Fe-rich region first decreased and then increased. In addition, almost all the W condensed in the Fe-rich region. The calculations verified that the Fe core in the molten pool was mainly driven by the Marangoni motion, and the phase field was used to simulate the nucleation and diffusion of the Fe cores inside the molten pool, revealing the formation process of the Fe-rich region. The addition of W was also beneficial in improving the wear resistance of the Cu-Fe alloy. When the W content was increased to 30%, the coefficient of friction of the alloy was reduced by 13%. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.