Crack-free 60 wt% WC reinforced FeCoNiCr high-entropy alloy composite coating fabricated by laser cladding

Crack control of metal-ceramic composite coatings with high content of ceramic particles remains a challenge due to their intrinsic brittleness and the generation of huge thermal stress during the laser cladding process. In this paper, the crack-free 60 wt% of tungsten carbide (WC) particles reinforced FeCoNiCr high-entropy alloy composite coating was successfully prepared by laser cladding technology. The composite coating is composed of face centered cubic (FCC) solid-solution phase, WC, W2C and Co4W2C. The composite coating consists of dendrite grains, massive precipitates and fishbone precipitates distributed around WC particles. No obvious texture observed in composite coating. The average microhardness of the composite coating is 506 HV0.05. The average friction coefficient and wear volume loss are 0.474 and 0.041 mm3, respectively.