Study on Microstructure and Properties of WC/Ni60A Wear-resistant Cladding Layer on Copper Surfaces

To improve the wear resistance of copper surface, 15 wt% WC/Ni60A composite coating was prepared on its surface by plasma cladding technology. The microstructure, microhardness, high-temperature wear resistance and heat transfer characteristics of the coating were systematically studied. The results show that the coating prepared by plasma cladding method is smooth and flat, without crack defects and can form a diffusion metallurgical bonding with the copper substrate. A large number of ceramic reinforcements such as WC, Cr B and Cr₂₃C₆ are formed in the coating and dispersed in the γ-（Cu, Fe,Ni） solid solution, resulting in an average microhardness of about 12 times than that of pure copper. In addition, the wear resistance of composite coating at 600 ℃ was about 4 times higher than that of pure copper at 300 ℃, which is due to its strong oxidation resistance and plastic deformation resistance. Temperature field simulation results show that the surface working temperature increases after cladding WC/Ni60A coating on copper surface, but it is still within the temperature range where the coating maintains good wear resistance. The results of this study can provide theoretical guidance for the surface strengthening of metallurgical copper components.