TUNGSTEN CARBIDE CLADDING FOR CAST IRON COMPONENTS

Conforma Clad from Kennametal (Latrobe, PA) is a leading global provider of wear-protection solutions to high-performance industrial markets. Its tungsten carbide cladding has been shown in field tests to extend the life of high-wear industrial components such as coal-burner nozzles and popcorn screens used in power plants more than eight times compared to conventional thermal spray coatings.

Now, due to process technology advancements, Conforma Clad cladding is available for cast-iron components, such as valves and pump housings used in chemical, paper, and other process industries. "Prior to this, due to our vacuum furnace cycle temperature being around 2100 deg F, we were unable to perform our cladding to ductile and other iron substrates," says Stephen Wallace, product manager. "Our new cladding matrix allows for a furnace cycle of less than 1900 deg F. Additionally, we've been able to verify our bonding and the wear properties of the new matrix versus uncoated ductile iron and white iron commonly used in highly abrasive environments."

Abrasion test results improved between eight and 10 times with Conforma Clad cladding compared to uncoated ductile iron, while tensile strength improved up to 10 percent. "Mature industries such as steel, paper, and petrochemical can greatly extend the life of cast iron components, increasing their efficiencies," Wallace says. "Another advantage is to use ductile iron in place of more expensive substrates and continue to gain performance advantages."

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www.conformaclad.com