Enhanced High-Temperature Wear Performance of H13 Steel through TiC Incorporation by Laser Metal Deposition

• Published in: Materials Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 99
• Main Authors: Lu, Chengqi, Chen, Zhenyu, Yan, Yuqing, Zhuo, Yuhao, Wang, Chuanyang, Jia, Qingbo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 22-12-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: composite coating; Composite materials; Extrusion dies; H13 tool steel; High temperature; high−temperature wear performance; Hot work tool steels; Investigations; Laser deposition; laser metal deposition (LMD); Lasers; Martensite; microstructure; Protective coatings; Temperature; Thermal stability; Titanium carbide; Wear mechanisms; Wear resistance; composite coating; laser metal deposition (LMD); H13 tool steel; high−temperature wear performance; microstructure
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma16010099

High-temperature wear failure has been a major challenge to die parts. This work provides a comprehensive study on the high-temperature wear performance of a TiC/H13 composite coating prepared by laser metal deposition (LMD). The microstructures of wrought H13 samples, LMD-processed H13 and TiC/H13 samples were systematically investigated. The refined martensite size, the uniform distribution of TiC ceramic particles, as well as their bonding with the matrix endowed the fabricated composite coating with superior hardness. The LMD-prepared TiC/H13 composite coating material demonstrated outstanding wear resistance when compared with other counterparts, mainly due to the high thermal stability and the load-transferring effect triggered by the introduced TiC ceramic particles. The dominated wear mechanism transition from severe ploughing in the wrought H13 material to mild delamination in the TiC/H13 composite coating was confirmed. The present study is expected to shed light on high-temperature wear-resistant coating material design and applications within the highly demanding mould industry.