Do You Need Tungsten Carbide Coatings?
Tungsten carbide coatings are one of the most widely used protective coatings used for applications involving treatments of surfaces for wear resistance. The process of thermal spraying allows coating companies to choose the most appropriate material to be used for applications thereby assuring production on a consistent level.
What’s so Special about Tungsten Carbide Coatings?
A binder material is mixed with tungsten carbide powder to form the tungsten carbide coatings used in the thermal spray process. This carbide is not only extremely hard but has a melting point of 5200°F. For the sake of comparison, cobalt isn’t even half as hard as tungsten carbide, and its melting point is also much lower at 2460°F.
The tungsten carbide particles’ volume fraction and grain size primarily determine properties of the coating such as strength, wear resistance, and hardness. By controlling the volume of the tungsten carbide particles relative to cobalt and their grain size, tungsten carbide coatings can be made to give the precise properties required for an application.
Examining Different Applications
When choosing various binder materials and chemistries, the factors that must be taken into consideration are corrosion, abrasion, and erosion. Extreme wear conditions are the ideal place for the use of tungsten carbide coatings. Let’s take a look at some of the applications in which these coatings are used:
- Power generation – seasonal schedules demand various levels of production and, when the fuel sources coal, components used in the production process must be protected from excessive abrasion under some of the most demanding circumstances.
- Metals and steel production – ending with the finished product and beginning with ore production, tungsten weld coatings, and tungsten carbide coatings are greatly utilized. Improved production quality and reduced maintenance costs can result from the use of these protective coatings during production.
- Paper mills – in the paper production process, roll surfaces are frequently used. Grip surface tungsten carbide coatings are applied to these surfaces because they are long lasting and the process can be adapted according to the thickness and quality of the paper which is being produced at the plant.
What If a Specific Finish Is Required?
Tungsten carbide coatings can be applied to varying Ra or surface finishes should your application require a precise finish. From small components up to large ones, our application process allows us to finish your project with the utmost skill and speed for a highly desired end result.
For its adaptability to challenging tooling jobs and its renowned durability, tungsten carbide is one of the most preferable materials used in protective coating processes. Its mechanical and thermal attributes are exceptional. Its outstanding resistance to wear is due to its high melting point (mentioned earlier). And for most industrial projects, this is an indisputable requirement.
If you would like to find out more about tungsten carbide coatings, or other protective coatings appropriate to your company or application, contact us at A&A Coatings. Our team of experts can answer your questions and provide your business with the protective coatings they need to reduce maintenance costs and increase your bottom line through increased quality of production.
