Effect of rare earth oxide (Y2O3) addition on wear characteristic of TiB2 ceramic reinforced Mo-based composite coating fabricated by Argon shielded Arc cladding

Abstract In this study, Mo-based composite coatings with 1 wt.% of rare Earth oxide (Y 2 O 3 ) contents were successfully manufactured on AISI SS304 (stainless steel) by argon shielded arc (ASAC) cladding method. The effect of Y 2 O 3 on phase composition, microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of Mo-based coatings were investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (EDS), micro-Vickers hardness apparatus and pin-on-disc type wear tester. The result demonstrates that the upper surface of composite coating with and without addition of Y 2 O 3 were mainly comprised of TiB 2 , Ni 3 Ti, Fe 3 Mo, MoNi 4 , NiTi, Mo 2 B, Y 2 TiO 7 , Cr 2 Ti, Fe 3 B, Y 2 O 3 , and MoNi 4 appeared. The constituent phase components in the coated layer were found to be beneficial for the enhancement of the microhardness and wear resistance. The maximum value of average micro-hardness and wear resistance was observed in samples having 1 wt.% of Y 2 O 3 as a precursor. The average microhardness of Mo-based coatings with Y 2 O 3 addition was in the range of 1599 to 2170.4 HV 0.1 and wear resistance increases from 1.41 to 6.36 × 10 −8 g/N-m. The pronounced effect of Y 2 O 3 addition on microhardness and wear resistance of coatings were consistent with the calculation results of applied multivariate statistical analysis. Thus, it can be concluded that the addition of Y 2 O 3 is effective and achievable way to solidate hardness and wear resistance of Mo-based coatings.