Bonding Strength and Microstructure of Cermet/Cu-Based Alloy Composite Brazed Coatings

WC-TiC-Co cermet and CuZnNi alloy composite coatings were produced on mild steel by a high temperature inside-furnace brazing technique. The microstructure, phase constituents and interfacial diffusion behavior of cermet and Cu-based alloy were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray diffraction. The tensile strength and wear property of composite coatings were also investigated. The results show that crème particles were not decomposed severely during the inside- furnace brazing process. The microstructure of the matrix is α and β phases. Diffusion occurred at the cermet/Cu-based alloy interface. The tensile strength of the composite coatings reached 240-300MPa, which depended on the brazing temperature and was far higher than that of the flame hardfacing layers. Cermet fracture was basically a brittle fracture in nature and matrix involves ductile fracture.