Development of Ni-WC composite clad using microwave energy

Cladding of suitably designed materials on functional surface which are subjected to sever tribological loading can lead to increase in components life. Development of clad includes several techniques such as thermal spraying, High velocity oxy fuel and laser cladding. However cladding done through the above listed process pertain certain defects like cracks, distortion, poor adhesion strength etc. In the present work a new process method has been developed to clad Ni (matrix)-80 wt.% WC (reinforcement)-20 wt.% powder on poor wear resisting material through microwave irradiation of frequency 2.45GHz. The characterization of developed clad is done using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission electron microscope (FE-SEM), Back scattered electron image and Vickers micro hardness. XRD pattern of developed composite clad showed presence of compounds like NiSi, NiW, and W2C phase. The wear resistant complex carbide phase have been seen in the structure of the clad transverse section showed good metallurgical bonding between the substrate and the developed clad. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.