1CHAPTER1INTRODUCTION1.1PreambleCoatings.PDFVIP

1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Preamble Coatings based on the WC-Co system have been extensively used in wear resistance applications not only due to their superior mechanical properties but also because of their excellent controllable tribological properties. Khan et al reported that nanocrystalline WC- cobalt coatings possess better wear performance especially when used in the oil sand exploration [1]. These properties are due to their excellent adherence to the substrate, good cohesion, low porosity, high hardness, and low tendency to form brittle phases (e.g. W2C, Co W C) during high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spraying processes as reported by 3 3 Guilemany et al. [2, 3]. The HVOF technique possesses advantages over plasma spraying such as high particle velocities and lower peak particle temperatures, producing a more densely consolidated deposit with reduced formation of detrimental reaction products and correspondingly improved wear properties [4-7]. These coatings have the potential for use to protect hydraulic pipelines, valves and pumps responsible for moving slurry during the processing of bitumen to recover oil from oil sand deposits as discussed by Saha et al. [8]. The wear resistance of WC-Co depends on a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Among these, the size and volume fraction of reinforcing phase, quantity and type of the matrix material, shape and size of the abrasive, and the aggressiveness of the environment play a key