Rolling contact fatigue of the hardmetal coating WC-17%Co

Surface engineering plays a key role for increasing load capacity, performance and reliability of mechanical components. Thermal spray coatings ca serve as a surface modification technology for increasing the endurable Hertzian pressures and decreasing the coefficient of friction between the contact partners. in this study two WC-17%Co coatings with 0.1 mm and 0.6 mm thickness, deposited by HVOF-spraying (high velocity oxy-fuel spraying) onto case hardened steel substrates were systematically studied in a rolling contact fatigue test. The rolling contact fatigue behavior of hardmetal coated components will be discussed studying the surface and subsurface stress distribution. Calculations of the subsurface stresses have indicated to an increase of stress at the substrat-coating interface.