Microstructure and wear behavior of Cu–Mo–Si coatings by laser cladding

Three Cu–Mo–Si coatings were synthesized on steel using laser cladding. The coatings have dense microstructure with composite phases including metal silicates and Cu-based solid solution. Different alloy compositions reduce different phases generated in the coatings. Phases appeared in three coatings were Cu + MoSi2 + Mo5Si3 + Cu3Si (Coatings 1 and 2), Cu + Mo3Si + Mo5Si3 + Cu3Si (Coating 3), respectively. The microhardness of coatings is in the range of 600 to 900 HV. The amount of Mo5Si3 phase decides the hardness of Cu–Mo–Si coatings in laser processing. The proof is that the highest hardness which is about 900 HV occurs in the clad layer of Coating 1. The thickness of clad layer of three coatings is about 0.7 mm (Coating 1), 0.8 mm (Coating 2) and 1.0 mm (Coating 3), respectively. The average friction coefficient for Coatings 1–3 is 0.40, 0.56 and 0.60, respectively. Wear rate values of 2.9 × 10−6 g/N m (Coating 1), 3.1 × 10−6 g/N m (Coating 2) and 3.5 × 10−6 g/N m (Coating 3) are calculated, respectively. The amount and kind of metal silicates have a huge influence on the wear resistance of coatings.