Materials

Tungsten Carbide – Cobalt (WC-Co) materials  are currently widely used  in Thermal Spraying coating for a wear resistant applications but:

• Cobalt (Co) and Tungsten (W) are classified as Critical Raw Materials which combine a high economic importance to the EU with a high risk associated with their supply
• Provision of Cobalt and WC in EU is expensive
• Cobalt has been classified as a toxic and carcinogenic compound, with notable environmental impact and in workplace

Currently the surface engineering processes are based on the extended use of tungsten-carbide- cobalt-chromium solid powder (WCCoCr alloy). WCCoCr is indeed the most common spray coating feedstock viable for thermal spraying systems (HVOF-HVAF) to provide wear resistance thick coatings.Thanks to the Mechanomade® powder technology by MBN, the industrial production route for innovative green nanostructured cermets powders for thermal spraying will allow to deliver improved wear resistance and corrosion inhibition, compared to currently available alternatives to Co- and WC-based cermets.

The BoosT innovative nanostructured materials and coatings will enable the industrial deployment of effective solutions in terms of costs savings, securing raw materials sources and replacement of toxic materials.

Novel materials developed among BoosT project are Cermets  composed by  Iron and Titanium metal s (Fe, Ti) combined with carbides as Titanium and Silicon carbides (TiC, SiC)

• Iron and Titanium metals are included in the most widespread elements in the earth crust, and are less expensive by far compared to Co and W elements
• TiC and SiC carbides are much less expensive raw materials compared to WC in EU
• Fe, Ti and TiC, SiC are green materials, intrinsically non-toxic for humans and environment

BoosT powders are  produced by MBN proprietary technology  Mechanomade® , that allows the manufacturing of nanostructured materials with oustanding properties