Effect of TiB2 Content on the Microstructure and Properties of CoCrNi Medium-Entropy Alloys Coating by Laser Cladding
摘要
A TiB2-reinforced CoCrNi composite coating was deposited onto 42CrMo steel using laser cladding. The influence of TiB2 addition (10%, 20%, and 30 wt.%) on the phase constitution, microstructural evolution, hardness distribution, and wear behavior of the CoCrNi medium-entropy alloy coating was systematically examined by means of x-ray diffraction (XRD), metallographic microscopy, microhardness measurements, and sliding wear tests. The results reveal that the coating primarily consists of TiB2, FCC, and BCC two-phase solid solution. Microstructural observations indicate that the coating is characterized by a mixture of cellular and columnar grain formations. With increasing TiB2 content, the microhardness of the coating rises significantly, reaching a maximum value of 552.46 HV0.3 at 30 wt.% TiB2—approximately twice that of the substrate. In tribological tests, the composite coating with 20 wt.% TiB2 exhibits the lowest average friction coefficient, at 0.324, which is about 48.16% lower than that of the base material, along with a wear loss of only 20 mg, representing a 61.5% reduction compared to the substrate, indicating superior tribological performance. The outcomes of this work not only contribute to broadening the application prospects of CoCrNi-based medium-entropy alloy coatings but also offer essential theoretical foundations for the engineering utilization of 42CrMo steel as a structural material.