Microstructural and tribological investigation of Ti–Mo ₂ C metal matrix composite coatings fabricated by plasma transferred arc cladding on AISI 304L stainless steel

In this study, the surface characteristics of AISI 304L stainless steel were enhanced using different ratios of titanium (Ti) and molybdenum carbide (Mo ₂ C) powders by the plasma transfer arc (PTA) cladding technique. The impact of Ti and Mo ₂ C content on the wear and microhardness of composite coating has been examined by pin-on-disc tribometer and Vickers microhardness, respectively. The coatings consist of Fe ₃ C, TiC, Mo ₂ C, NiTi, Cr ₇ C ₃ , Ti, and Mo hard and intermetallic phases, as demonstrated by the XRD result. Analysis using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) showed that the microstructure of the MMC coating was primarily made up of spheroidal and dendritic TiC particles. The cladded sample has a maximum microhardness value of 1870HV _0.1 , which is higher than the uncladded sample’s value of 190HV _0.1 . The wear rate of the coated surface is 2.33 × 10 ⁻⁸ gN ⁻¹ m ⁻¹ , which is lower than the substrate’s value of 46.232 × 10 ⁻⁸ gN ⁻¹ m ⁻¹ . The developed composite coating may significantly increase the lifespan of SS304L components, which are beneficial for demanding industrial applications where wear resistance and durability are crucial.