Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Russia

K. O. Bazaleeva, Candidate of Psychical-Mathematical Sciences, Leading Researcher, e-mail: bazaleeva-ko@rudn.ru
D. E. Safarova, Post-Graduate Student, Junior Research Assistant, e-mail: safarova_de@pfur.ru
Yu. Yu. Ponkratova, Researcher, e-mail: ponkratova-yuyu@pfur.ru
A. V. Alekseev, Process Engineer, e-mail: alexeev-anvs@rudn.ru

By varying the concentration of reinforcing phase particles and the technological parameters of the method for producing functional composite coatings, it is possible to influence their structural state and, consequently, their performance characteristics. This article analyzes the dependencies of the structural parameters of the Inconel 625/WC composite coating, manufactured by laser cladding, on the amount of reinforcing carbide phase and the cladding mode. X-ray phase analysis in the coatings revealed phases present in the initial powders—nickel solid solution and carbides WC and W₂C, as well as carbides formed during laser cladding: η₁(Ni₃Mo₃C), (W,Cr)₂C, and MoNbC₂. It was established that the microhardness of the composite coating matrix primarily depends on the amount of η₁-phase in it, which increases with an increase in the initial concentration of carbide and the specific power of the laser radiation. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microspectral analysis were used to reveal the structural components and their composition. The structure includes initial spherical tungsten carbide particles containing only W and C, surrounded by a “halo” enriched with W, C, and strong carbide-forming elements of the matrix – Mo and Nb, dendrites with increased concentrations of Ni and Fe, and interdendritic space enriched with Mo, Nb, and W. It is shown that the lattice parameter of the nickel solid solution depends non-monotonically on the amount of reinforcing phase in the coating: up to 30% tungsten carbide, the lattice parameter increases with the concentration of carbide, while higher concentrations show the opposite effect.

This publication was produced as part of research project No. 202516-2-000, Grant Support Systems for Scientific Projects of PFUR.
R. B. Shipsev, E. V. Bazaleev, M. D. Savelyev, and D. Z. Ishmukhametov also contributed to this work.

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