The tribological properties of parts surface, namely their wear resistance and friction
properties, are in many cases determining for their proper function. To improve surface properties, it
is possible to create hard, wear resistant coatings by thermal spray technologies. Using these
versatile coatings it is possible to increase parts lifetime, reliability and safety. The thermally
sprayed cermet composite coatings show, thanks to their specific properties, excellent resistance to
abrasive and erosive wear, as well as corrosion resistance. To predict the behavior, lifetime and
application area of thermally sprayed cermet coatings it is necessary to completely understand the
relationships between technology, process parameters, microstructure and properties of the coatings.
The finding of these relationships and use this understanding to develop deposits with improved
wear resistance for coating of various applications is the main aim of the presented work. It was
done by studying the coatings microstructure and mechanical properties. Four different tests of wear
resistance were done to study the mechanism of surface degradation, to confirm the results of
mechanical testing and to predict the lifetime of coated parts - the abrasive wear performance of the
coatings was assessed using a dry/sand rubber wheel test according to ASTM G-65, wet slurry
abrasion test according to ASTM G-75, pin-on-disc test according to ASTM G-99 and erosion wear
resistance for three impact angles. On the basis of obtained data the new possibilities of coatings
application was determined, tested and implemented.