The properties and wear behavior of HVOF spray coating layer of Co-alloy powder

High velocity of oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spray coating is progressively replacing the other classical hard coatings such as chrome plating and ceramic coating by the classical methods, since the very toxic $Cr^{6+}$ ion is well known as carcinogen causing lung cancer, and the ceramic coatings are brittle. Co-alloy T800 powder is coated on the Inconel 718 substrates by the HVOF coating procesess developed by this laboratory. For the study of the possibility of replacing of chrome plating, the wear properties of HVOF Co-alloy T800 coatings are investigated using the reciprocating sliding tester with a counter sliding SUS 304 ball both at room and at an elevated temperature of $1000^{\circ}F\;(538^{\circ}C)$. The possibility as durability improvement coating is studied for the application to the high speed spindles vulnerable to frictional heat and wear. Wear mechanisms at the reciprocating sliding wear test are studied far the application to the systems similar to the sliding test such as high speed spindles. Wear debris and frictional coefficients of T800 coatings both at room and at an elevated temperature of $538^{\circ}C$ are drastically reduced compared to those of non-coated surface of Inconel 718 substrates. Wear traces and friction coefficients of both coated and non-coated surfaces are drastically reduced at a high temperature of $538^{\circ}C$ compared with those at room temperature. These show that the coating is highly recommendable far the durability Improvement coating on the surfaces vulnerable to frictional heat and wear.