Effect of Quenching Temperature on Microstructure and Wear Resistant Properties of Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> Cermet Coating

H13 steel, a widely used material in hot work tooling, faces premature failure due to insufficient hardness and wear resistance. To address this limitation, Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> cermet coatings were fabricated on H13 alloy steel via plasma spray welding, and subseque...

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Main Authors: Hao Zhang, Yongqi Hu, Yang Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Lubricants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/6/233
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author Hao Zhang
Yongqi Hu
Yang Zhang
author_facet Hao Zhang
Yongqi Hu
Yang Zhang
author_sort Hao Zhang
collection DOAJ
description H13 steel, a widely used material in hot work tooling, faces premature failure due to insufficient hardness and wear resistance. To address this limitation, Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> cermet coatings were fabricated on H13 alloy steel via plasma spray welding, and subsequently quenched at 850 °C, 1000 °C, and 1150 °C. The effects of the quenching temperature on the microstructure and wear resistance were investigated using optical microscopy (OM) for cross-sectional morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for microstructural and wear surface analyses, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) for elemental composition analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phase identification. The coating primarily consisted of α-Fe, Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub>, (Mo,Fe,Cr)<sub>3</sub>B<sub>2</sub>, and Fe<sub>23</sub>(B,C)<sub>6</sub> phases. Increasing the temperature to 1150 °C increased the Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> hard phase and elevated microhardness by 32.04% (from 827 HV<sub>0.5</sub> to 1092 HV<sub>0.5</sub>). Wear resistance improved by 46.38% (mass loss reduced from 6.9 mg to 3.7 mg). The main wear mechanism was identified as abrasive wear due to the spalling of hard phase particles. These results demonstrate that optimizing quenching temperature enhances the hardness and wear resistance in Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> coatings, offering a viable strategy to extend H13 steel service life in high-temperature industrial applications.
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spelling doaj-art-311b8ce96cc3408bb2d5de7b92cea7882025-08-20T03:16:22ZengMDPI AGLubricants2075-44422025-05-0113623310.3390/lubricants13060233Effect of Quenching Temperature on Microstructure and Wear Resistant Properties of Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> Cermet CoatingHao Zhang0Yongqi Hu1Yang Zhang2College of Optoelectronic Manufacturing, Zhejiang Industry & Trade Vocational College, Wenzhou 325003, ChinaCollege of Optoelectronic Manufacturing, Zhejiang Industry & Trade Vocational College, Wenzhou 325003, ChinaSchool of Engineering + Technology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USAH13 steel, a widely used material in hot work tooling, faces premature failure due to insufficient hardness and wear resistance. To address this limitation, Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> cermet coatings were fabricated on H13 alloy steel via plasma spray welding, and subsequently quenched at 850 °C, 1000 °C, and 1150 °C. The effects of the quenching temperature on the microstructure and wear resistance were investigated using optical microscopy (OM) for cross-sectional morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for microstructural and wear surface analyses, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) for elemental composition analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phase identification. The coating primarily consisted of α-Fe, Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub>, (Mo,Fe,Cr)<sub>3</sub>B<sub>2</sub>, and Fe<sub>23</sub>(B,C)<sub>6</sub> phases. Increasing the temperature to 1150 °C increased the Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> hard phase and elevated microhardness by 32.04% (from 827 HV<sub>0.5</sub> to 1092 HV<sub>0.5</sub>). Wear resistance improved by 46.38% (mass loss reduced from 6.9 mg to 3.7 mg). The main wear mechanism was identified as abrasive wear due to the spalling of hard phase particles. These results demonstrate that optimizing quenching temperature enhances the hardness and wear resistance in Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> coatings, offering a viable strategy to extend H13 steel service life in high-temperature industrial applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/6/233plasma spray weldingMo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub>quenching temperaturemicrostructurewear resistance
spellingShingle Hao Zhang
Yongqi Hu
Yang Zhang
Effect of Quenching Temperature on Microstructure and Wear Resistant Properties of Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> Cermet Coating
Lubricants
plasma spray welding
Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub>
quenching temperature
microstructure
wear resistance
title Effect of Quenching Temperature on Microstructure and Wear Resistant Properties of Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> Cermet Coating
title_full Effect of Quenching Temperature on Microstructure and Wear Resistant Properties of Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> Cermet Coating
title_fullStr Effect of Quenching Temperature on Microstructure and Wear Resistant Properties of Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> Cermet Coating
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Quenching Temperature on Microstructure and Wear Resistant Properties of Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> Cermet Coating
title_short Effect of Quenching Temperature on Microstructure and Wear Resistant Properties of Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub> Cermet Coating
title_sort effect of quenching temperature on microstructure and wear resistant properties of mo sub 2 sub feb sub 2 sub cermet coating
topic plasma spray welding
Mo<sub>2</sub>FeB<sub>2</sub>
quenching temperature
microstructure
wear resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/6/233
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AT yangzhang effectofquenchingtemperatureonmicrostructureandwearresistantpropertiesofmosub2subfebsub2subcermetcoating