Anti-wear titanium carbide coating on low-carbon steel by thermo-reactive diffusion

• Published in: Surface & coatings technology 2019-04, Vol.364, p.265-272
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jin, Li, Shuai, Lu, Chenfeng, Sun, Caiyuan, Pu, Shuai, Xue, Qi, Lin, Yuanhua, Huang, Min
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carburized; Carburizing; Coefficient of friction; Diffusion coating; Low carbon steels; Microhardness; Microstructure; Protective coatings; Salt baths; Substrates; Thermo-reactive deposition; Titanium; Titanium carbide; Titanizing; Wear resistance
• ISSN: 0257-8972; 1879-3347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2019.02.085

In this research, titanium carbide was fabricated onto carburized AISI 1020 steel through thermo-reactive diffusion (TRD) with salt bath processing at 900 °C for 3 h. The researchers investigated the microstructure and the wear resistance of the as-obtained coating. Results showed that the as-received coating was of 7.5 ± 0.3 μm with surface micro-hardness of approximately 1885 ± 121 HV0.025. The coating presented excellent adhesion to the substrate as evidenced by a bonding force between the coating (carbide layer) and substrate of approximately 52 N. During the sliding test, its friction coefficient (0.45–0.56) tended to decrease in the final stage. In comparison with the bare substrate, the specific wear volume loss for the titanium carbide–coated specimen decreased by 78%. •TiC coating was achieved on carburized AISI 1020 by thermo-reactive diffusion at 900 °C for 3 h.•The adhesion of the interface was enhanced by a narrow inter-diffusion region of titanium (from TRD) and iron.•The specific wear volume loss for the titanium carbide–coated specimen is decreased by 78%.