Experimental Investigation and Synergistic Mechanism Modeling of Integrated Ni60A-WC/TiAl Composite Coatings and Bionic Textures for Enhancing Wear Resistance and Anti-adhesion of Soil-engaging Components

The accelerating wear of soil-engaging components necessitates superior wear resistance and extended service life. This study aims to develop a robust anti-adhesion and wear-resistant surface by synergistically integrating a Ni60A–WC composite coating with engineered bionic surface textures. The Ni60A-WC coating provides a high-hardness matrix to support the micro-textures, while a Ti 67 Al 33 metallic coating was subsequently deposited via physical vapor deposition to impart hydrophobicity. The Ni60A-35WC coating exhibited a dense, defect-free microstructure and achieved the lowest mass loss of 1 mg under a 150 N load. Crucially, the bionic micro-dimples significantly reduced the friction coefficient under humid conditions by inducing hydrodynamic effects. The outer Ti 67 Al 33 coating exhibited a water contact angle of 151°, which remained stable after adhesion tests. Furthermore, the synergistic mechanisms were elucidated through a hierarchy of theoretical models, revealing that the hard WC phases provide a load-sharing "shielding effect" that protects the micro-dimples, while the textures facilitate a Cassie-Baxter wetting state and hydrodynamic lift to mitigate soil adhesion and drag.