Effect of neodymium oxide on microstructure, hardness and abrasive wear behaviour of microwave clads

In the present work the effect of rare earth neodymium oxide in Co-based powder (EWAC1006EE) on microstructure, hardness and abrasive wear behavior of microwave clads were investigated. The commercially available Co-Based powder was modified with addition of rare earth Nd₂O₃ in varying wt% from 1 to 3 in step of 1 wt%. It has been observed that with increase in content of neodymium the microstructure of the coatings are more refined. The XRD analysis of the coating with addition of 3.0 wt% of Nd₂O₃ promotes the presence of hard carbides Cr₇C₃, Cr₃C₂, W₂C, Cr₂₃C₆ and NdC₂. The modified coating with 3 wt% of Nd₂O₃ addition enhanced microhardness by 17% (from 761 ± 2 to 912 ± 12 HV) and results in lower abrasive wear due to high hardness and refined microstructure as compared to other coatings. (paper)