Wear Behavior of a Single-Phase Laser-Clad Cu-9Ni-6Sn Coating in Air and in NaCl Solution

Wear behavior of a single-phase laser-clad Cu-9Ni-6Sn coating was investigated against high-carbon steel ball in a ball-on-disc linear wear tester in air and in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution, compared with the commercial wear-resistant Cu-10Ni alloy. The wear resistance of a single-phase laser-clad Cu-9Ni-6Sn coating was higher than that of Cu-10Ni alloy in both air and NaCl solution. For the sliding process in air, a continuous, compacted and adherent oxide layer was formed on the sliding surface of Cu-9Ni-6Sn coating due to the combined effects of spinodal decomposition, Sn-rich precipitates and grain refinement. In contrast, such a layer was not seen on the sliding surface of Cu-10Ni alloy. For the sliding process in NaCl solution, Cu-9Ni-6Sn coating exhibited the high hardness and excellent corrosion resistance compared to Cu-10Ni alloy, which was responsible for the better wear resistance of Cu-9Ni-6Sn coating. Clearly, a single-phase laser-clad Cu-9Ni-6Sn coating exhibited the high wear resistance in both air and NaCl solution, resulting in the excellent application prospect in many industries.