How can the dependence on critical raw materials be reduced and highly wear-resistant coatings be produced at the same time? A research project at Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH (NMB) is dedicated to precisely these questions.
Nickel, cobalt and tungsten are considered "strategically important" raw materials. These materials in particular play an important role in tribological coatings, such as highly wear-resistant tools in plant engineering for industrial series production.
The focus of a newly launched research project by NMB and the Lower Franconian company Hubert-tec GmbH is the development of innovative composite powders made from iron-based and ceramic particles. The coating produced from these particles largely dispenses with critical raw materials and at the same time provides a high level of wear protection. The powders are to be produced using a special atomization process based on thermal arc spraying.
The coating is applied using a process based on laser powder build-up welding and is developed in such a way that a homogeneous wear protection with high thermal conductivity and a hardness of more than 60 HRC is created, which roughly corresponds to the hardness of drills and cutting tools. The research project "ComDiscTool - Development of sustainable composite powders and manufacturing processes for highly wear-resistant coatings and tools for sheet metal forming" is funded by the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
