The electrochemical and microstructural response of metal matrix composites (MMCs) under
different erosion-corrosion conditions is assessed in this paper. The MMCs are plasma transferred
arc (PTA) overlays, produced by reinforcing two iron base and two nickel base hardfacing matrices
with tungsten carbide (WC) particles. The microstructures are examined using scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) and stereology techniques. The electrochemical response under erosioncorrosion
conditions, assessed by in-situ potentiodynamic techniques, is analyzed as a function of
sand content (10 and 50 g/l) and slurry temperature (20 and 65°C). The degradation mechanisms of
the MMCs microstructural components are analyzed by SEM. The microstructural analysis showed
that WC grains were partially dissolved in the molten matrix, promoting the formation of secondary
phases in the matrix phase. The in-situ electrochemical results show that there is a correlation
between the MMCs microstructural characteristics and their electrochemical response and that the
nickel base MMC, shows significantly lower current density values at all sand content. On the other
hand, the iron base MMC showed a fully active behavior at all erosion-corrosion conditions. Finally
the erosion-corrosion tests in conjunction with post-test surface analysis demonstrates that as the
sand content and temperature increases under erosion-corrosion conditions, every microstructural
component is significantly affected and the corrosion of the matrix undermined the WC grains and
the integrity of the secondary phases.
Keywords: Erosion-corrosion, metal matrix composites, microstructure, tungsten carbide.