With the increasing attention to environmental pollution caused by particulate matter globally, the automotive industry has also become increasingly interested in particulate matter, especially particulate matter generated by automobile brake systems. Here, we designed a coating composition and analyzed its mechanical properties to reduce particulate matter generated by brake systems during braking of vehicles. We designed a composition to check the mechanical properties change by adding Cr3C2 and YSZ to the WC-Ni-Cr composite composition. Based on the designed composition, coating samples were manufactured, and the coating properties were analyzed by Vickers hardness and ball-on-disk tests. As a result of the experiments, we found that the hardness and friction coefficient of the coating increased as the amount of Cr3C2 added decreased. Furthermore, we found that the hardness of the coating layer decreased when YSZ was added at 20vol%, but the friction coefficient was higher than the composition with Cr3C2 addition.

Expensive PCBN or ceramic cutting tools are used for the processing of difficult-to-cut materials such as Ti and Ni alloy materials. These tools have a problem of breaking easily due to their high hardness but low fracture toughness. To solve this problem, cutting tools that form various coating layers are used in low-cost WC-Co hard material tools, and researches on various tool materials are being conducted. In this study, WC-5, 10, and 15 wt%Ni hard materials for difficult-to-cut cutting materials are densified using horizontal ball milled WC-Ni powders and pulsed current activated sintering method (PCAS method). Each PCASed WC–Ni hard materials are almost completely dense, with a relative density of up to 99.7 ~ 99.9 %, after the simultaneous application of pressure of 60 MPa and electric current for 2 min; process involves almost no change in the grain size. The average grain sizes of WC and Ni for WC-5, 10, and 15 wt%Ni hard materials are about 1.09 ~ 1.29 and 0.31 ~ 0.51 μm, respectively. Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of WC-5, 10, and 15 wt%Ni hard materials are about 1,923 ~ 1,788 kg/mm2 and 13.2 ~ 14.3 MPa.m1/2, respectively. Microstructure and phase analyses of PCASed WC-Ni hard materials are performed.

In this study we manufacture a Ni-Cr-B-Si +WC/12Co composite coating layer on a Cu base material using a laser cladding (LC) process, and investigate the microstructural and mechanical properties of the LC coating and Ni electroplating layers (reference material). The initial powder used for the LC coating layer is a powder feedstock with an average particle size of 125 μm. To identify the microstructural and mechanical properties, OM, SEM, XRD, room and high temperature hardness, and wear tests are implemented. Microstructural observation of the initial powder and LC coating layer confirm the layer is composed mainly of γ-Ni phases and WC and Cr23C6 carbides. The measured hardness of the LC coating and Ni electroplating layers are 653 and 154 Hv, respectively. The hardness measurement from room up to high temperatures of 700°C result in a hardness decrease as the temperature increases, but the hardness of the LC coating layer is higher for all temperature conditions. Room temperature wear results show that the wear loss of the LC coating layer is 1/12 of the wear level of the Ni electroplating layer. The measured bond strength is also greater in the LC coating than the Ni electroplating.

WC-CrC-Ni coatings were prepared by nine processes of the Taguchi program with three levels for the four spray parameters: spray distance, flow rates of hydrogen and oxygen, and powder feed rate. The optimal coating process (OCP) was oxygen flow rate of 38 FMR, hydrogen flow rate of 53 FMR, powder feed rate of 25 g/min, and spray distance of 7 inches. Hardness of 1150 Hv and porosity of 1.2 %, were obtained by OCP; these are better results compared with the highest 1033 Hv and the lowest 1.5% porosity obtained by nine processes of the Taguchi program. Friction coefficient of the WC-CrC-Ni coating decreased from 0.36 ± 0.07 at 25 oC to 0.23 ± 0.07 at 450 oC. These values were smaller than those of the EHC (electrolytic hard chrome) plating at both temperatures due to lubrication from the oxide debris. The wear trace and wear depth of the coating are smaller than those of the EHC at both temperatures. Pitting was not found in the WC-CrC-Ni coating sample, while it did appear in the EHC sample.

The effects of B4C on the mechanical properties of WC/Ni-Si hardmetal were analyzed using sintered bod- ies comprising WC(70-x wt.%), Ni (28.5 wt.%), Si (1.5 wt.%), and B4C (x wt.%), where 0 x 1.2 wt.%. Samples were prepared by a combination of mechanical milling and liquid-phase sintering. Phase and microstructure character- izations were conducted using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe X-ray micro anal- ysis. The mechanical properties of the sintered bodies were evaluated by measuring their hardness and transverse rupture strength. The addition of B4C improved the sinterability of the hardmetals. With increasing B4C content, their hardness increased, but their transverse rupture strength decreased. The changes of sinterability and mechanical properties were attributed to the alloying reaction between B4C and the binder metal (Ni, Si). ≤ ≤

In the Ti(CN)-Co/Ni cermet, WC is an effective additive for increasing sinterability and mechanical properties such as toughness and hardness. In this work, WC, (WTi)C and (WTi)(CN) were used as the source of WC and their effects were investigated in the respect of microstructural evolution and mechanical properties. Regardless of the kinds of WC sources, the hard phase with dark core and bright rim structure was observed in the Ti(CN)-Co/Ni cermet under the incorporation of relatively small amount of WC. However, hard phases with bright core began to appear and their frequency increased with the increase of all kinds of WC source addition. The ratio of bright core to dark one in the (TiW)(CN)-Co/Ni cermet was greatest under the incorporation of (WTi)C compared at the same equivalent amount of WC. The mechanical properties were improved with the addition of WC irrespective of the kinds of sources, but the addition of (WTi)(CN) was less effective for the increase of fracture toughness.

급속소결방법인 고주파유도가열 소결법과 펄스전류활성 소결법을 이용하여 습식 볼밀링으로 혼합한 WC-8wt.%Ni분말에 60MPa의 압력과 고주파유도가열장치의 경우 전체 용량 (15kw)의 90%에 해당하는 고주파출력을, 펄스전류활성 소결장치의 경우 2800A의 펄스전류를 가하여 치밀한 소결체를 2분이내의 짧은 시간에 제조하였다. WC 초기입자크기가 증가함에 따라 제조된 소결체의 입자크기와 평균자유행로는 증가하였다. 또한 WC 결정립 크기가 증가함에 따라

(1) Using high-frequency induction heating sintering and spark plasma sintering method, the densification of WC-Ni hard materials was accomplished using ultra fine power of Ni and WC. (2) Nearly fully dense WC-Ni could be obtained within 1 min. (3) Relative density and mechanical properties of WC-Ni obtained by HFIHS were high than those obtained by SPS. And WC grain size made by HFIHS was smaller than that made by SPS. (4) The fracture toughness and hardness values of WC-8Ni, WC-10Ni, and WC-12Ni made by HFIHS were , respectively for 60MPa and an induced current for 90% output of total capacity, 15KW. (5) The fracture toughness and hardness values of WC-8Ni, WC-10Ni, and WC-12Ni made by SPS were , respectively for 60MPa and the electric current of 2500 A

MCFC 작동온도인 650˚C에서 음극의 creep과 소결에 의한 구조적 변형을 막기 위해 기계적 합금법에 의한 Ni-WC분말을 합금화하여 변형에 대한 저항성을 증대시키고자 하였다. 80시간동안 어트리션 밀링을 실시한 분말은 XRD 분석결과 결정규칙이 파괴된 비정질 상을 보였다. 제조된 분말은 적당한 점도의 슬러리로 제조후 테이프 캐스팅법에 의해 green sheet를 제조하였다. 제조된 박판의 두께는 0.9mm였고, 평균 기공 크기는 3~5μm, 기공율은 55%였다. 소결체의 XRD 분석결과 2차성은 생성되지 않았으며, SEM 및 dot-Mapping image를 통해 Ni matrix 안에 W 입자가 미세하고 균일하게 분포되어 있어 고용강화 및 분산강화를 통해 Ni 음극의 기계적 특성을 향상시킬 것으로 기대된다.

MCFC(Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell) 작동온도인 650˚C에서 Ni 음극의 Creep 및 소결에 대한 저항성을 개선시키고자 Ni-W(WC) 복합재료를 기계적 합금법으로 제조하였다. 기계적 합금화한 분말의 XRD분석결과 밀링시간이 증가함에 따라 재료의 규칙적인 결정이 파괴되어 비정질화 되어가는 경향을 보였다. 소결은 1280˚C의 수소분위기에서 10시간 행하였다 소결된 시편의 dot-mapping 및 TEM 분석결과 Ni-W 계면에서의 2차상 관찰되지 않았으나 0.1μm 이하의 W이 Ni 기지내에 미세하고 균일하게 분포되어 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이와같이 미세하고 균일하게 분포되어 있는 W은 고용강화 및 분산강화 효과를 통하여 Ni음극의 기계적 특성을 향상시킬 것으로 기대된다.