Influence of droplet-free ta-C coatings and lubrication conditions on tribological performance and mechanical characteristics of WC−Co

• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2024.137058
• Publication Date: 2024-07-22T23:11:30Z
• Authors: Koki Murasawa; Mohamed Ragab Diab; Mei Wang; Hiroshi Naragino; Tsuyoshi Yoshitake; Mohamed Egiza
• Keywords: Abrasion (mechanical); Cemented carbide; Dry lubricant; Scratch

Cemented carbide (WC−Co) tools suffer from surface abrasion, limiting their performance. This study explores droplet-free tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) coatings deposited via arc ion plating as a solution. The possess dense, sp3-rich structure, leading to remarkable hardness of 60 GPa compared 37 WC−Co, and strong adhesion with critical scratch load 41 N. Tribological tests confirm effectiveness. Dry sliding show reduced wear lower CoF (0.123) uncoated (0.159). Notably, water-soluble lubricants yielded the best performance (lowest CoF: 0.092, superior resistance), while water mineral oil also improved