Tungsten-carbide coating on EN 10025/5 steel to enhance the codal life of bogie side frame in Indian Railways

Metallic corrosion is a major concern for bogie side frames used in railways. The exposure to harsh environment is unavoidable and a protective coating is one possible solution. In this work, tungsten-based carbide coating was produced on EN10025/5 steel. The corrosion properties of the coating were studied using potentio dynamic polarization test using actual field conditions and using ASTM standard 3.5% NaCl. The coating was subjected to slurry exposure using waterjet erosion tester. The microstructure of the eroded area was studied for understanding the wear mechanism. The corrosion and erosion of the coating was compared with the base material. It was evident that tungsten-based carbide coating increases the corrosion and erosion resistance of steel in railway application.