Enhancing high-temperature wear resistance by constructing the amorphous-crystal heterointerface structure in WO3/TiO2 composite coatings

The WO₃/TiO₂ composite coatings with varying amorphous content were fabricated in electrolytes with varying addition of tungsten source, and their tribological properties were tested from 25 ℃ to 600 ℃. The results indicated the composite coatings showed better mechanical and tribological properties at room temperature and exhibited superior wear resistance at high temperatures especially for 400 ℃. The enhanced high-temperature wear resistance was attributed to the formation of nanocrystals and the establishment of amorphous-crystal heterointerface, which effectively impedes dislocation movement and makes them accumulate dispersed along the interface because of the small size of nanocrystals. This work offers a theoretical foundation for enhancing the wear properties of the coatings under high-temperature conditions through the construction of an amorphous-crystal structure.