Enhancing Wear Resistance of A390 Aluminum Alloy: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Thermal Sprayed WC, CrC, and Al 2 O 3 Coatings.

This study comparatively analyzed the wear characteristics and adhesion properties of 86WC–10Co–4Cr (WC) coatings deposited using the high velocity oxygen fuel process and 75Cr₃C₂–25NiCr (CrC) and Al₂O₃–3TiO₂ (Al₂O₃) coatings deposited using the atmospheric plasma spray process on an A390 aluminum alloy substrate. The adhesion strength and wear test results demonstrated that the WC coating exhibited superior wear resistance. In contrast, the CrC and Al₂O₃ coatings showed lower adhesion properties and unstable frictional variations due to a higher number of defects compared to the WC coating. The WC coating layer, protected by WC particles, exhibited minimal damage and a low wear rate, followed by CrC and Al₂O₃. Ultimately, WC coating is highlighted as the optimal choice to enhance the wear resistance of A390 aluminum alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]