Study of Design and Microstructure Properties of Laser Clad Multiphase Coupled Nickel-Based Self-Lubricating Coatings

In an effort to substantially improve the anti-friction and anti-wear properties of the laser cladding layer, innovative design research on metal matrix and ceramic wear-resistant reinforcement phase-based self-lubricating composite coatings was carried out. This involved an innovative combination of various metal matrices and ceramic wear-resistant reinforcement phases and the design of composite coatings that integrate in situ generated lubricating phases with in situ added wear-resistant reinforcement phases. A multiphase coupled self-lubricating coating was fabricated on a 42CrMo substrate using laser cladding technology, and further analysis was conducted on the physical phase composition, microstructure, microhardness, tribological properties, and wear mechanism of the composite coating to investigate the effect of WS2 content on the laser cladding layer. The findings indicate that the multiphase coupled self-lubricating coating consists of metal carbide wear-resistant reinforcement phases, such as WC and Cr3C2, Fe, Ni matrix phase, and TixSy, CrxSy, and Ti2SC lubricating phases. During the friction and wear process, the laser cladding surface forms a multiphase coupled self-lubricating surface characterized by protuberant wear-resistant reinforcement phases, concave matrix phase, and a lubricating phase filling the intermediate gaps. This ensures that the laser cladding layer maintains outstanding friction reduction properties while also possessing excellent wear resistance. When the WS2 content is 10