Evaluation of Residual Stresses and Their Influence on Cavitation Erosion Resistance of High Kinetic HVOF and HVAF-Sprayed WC-CoCr Coatings

Thermal spray processes have been developing toward lower particle temperature and higher velocity. Latest generation high-velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) and high-velocity air-fuel (HVAF) can produce very dense coating structures due to the higher kinetic energy typical for these thermal spray processes. Thermally sprayed coatings usually contain residual stresses, which are formed by a superposition of thermal mismatch, quenching and, in case of high kinetic energy technologies, peening stresses. These stresses may have a significant role on the mechanical response and fatigue behavior of the coating. Understanding these effects is mandatory for damage tolerant coating design and wear performance. For instance, wear-resistant WC-CoCr coatings having high compressive stresses show improved cavitation erosion performance. In this study, comparison of residual stresses in coatings sprayed by various thermal spray systems HVOF (Thermico CJS and Oerlikon Metco DJ Hybrid) and HVAF (Kermetico AcuKote) was made. Residual stresses were determined through thickness by utilizing Tsui and Clyne analytical model. The real temperature and deposition stress data were collected in the coating process by in situ technique. That data were used for the model to represent realistic residual stress state of the coating. The cavitation erosion and abrasion wear resistance of the coatings were tested, and relationships between residual stresses and wear resistance were discussed.