Metco 16C is Oerlikon Metco's top-of-family nickel self-fluxing hardfacing powder — 16% Cr, 4% B, 4% Si, 3% Cu, 3% Mo, 2.5% Fe, 0.5% C, balance Ni. Inside the Ni-Cr-B-Si family it sits above Metco 12C (~Rc 35) and Metco 14E and lands at Rc 58-62 fused, making it the hardest Metco self-fluxing grade that doesn't rely on tungsten carbide. The 3% molybdenum and 3% copper additions — absent from 12C and 14E — push corrosion resistance meaningfully above the rest of the line; Oerlikon's own bulletin ranks Metco 16C alongside Metco 19E as the most corrosion-resistant self-fluxing grades.

When to pick Metco 16C over Colmonoy 6 or Metco 14E: the job is abrasion plus mildly corrosive service, the wear allowance demands a thick deposit (up to 3 mm / 1/8 in), and the part can accept the ~1,950°F fuse cycle. When to step up to a cobalt Stellite or a carbide-Ni matrix: sustained service above 1,000°F, heavy impact, or fine-particle slurry erosion.

We run it via flame spray + fuse, HVOF + fuse, plasma + fuse, and PTA for pump sleeves, glass molds, sucker-rod couplings, slurry pump internals, and tillage points. Got a pump sleeve that keeps eating itself? Send us a sketch — we'll tell you if Metco 16C fits.

Technical data

Hardness: approx. 650-780 HV converted from 58-62 HRC; coating hardness in the 'Rc60 range' per Oerlikon Metco / Metco Joining & Cladding product data
Hardness (HRC): 55-62 HRC typical after fuse; Metco 16C-NS datasheet quotes HRC 58-62 fused; legacy Metco 10-040 bulletin quotes Rc 60 macrohardness; widely cited as the hardest fused self-fluxing nickel alloy that does not contain tungsten carbide
Bond strength: Metallurgically bonded after the fuse cycle — substrate-limited, not coating-limited. As-sprayed (unfused) flame deposits are porous and mechanically bonded; spray-and-fuse and PTA deposits share the parent-metal interface.
Max service temp: ~1,000°F continuous (hardness retention); Oerlikon Metco 16C-NS datasheet lists 540°C (~1,000°F) maximum service temperature; short excursions higher with oxidation penalty
Max service temp: ~540°C continuous per Metco 16C-NS product data
As-sprayed porosity: Flame/plasma as-sprayed 3-8%; after the fuse cycle 'essentially none' per Metco 10-040 bulletin; PTA deposits ~0%
Typical thickness: Flame spray + fuse 30-125 mils (0.030-0.125 in, up to 3 mm / 1/8 in without difficulty); Metco 16C-NS is specifically marketed for coatings thicker than 1.5 mm with better crack resistance than simpler Ni self-fluxing grades
Melting range: melting point ~1,850°F (1,010°C); fusing temperature ~1,950°F (1,065°C) per Metco 10-040 technical bulletin; Metco 16C-NS datasheet lists a 996°C melting point
Density: 7.5 g/cc per Metco 10-040 technical bulletin

Where it earns its keep

Highest hardness in the Oerlikon Metco nickel self-fluxing family that does not contain tungsten carbide — Rc 58-62 fused, outpacing Metco 12C (~Rc 35) and Metco 14E
Higher chromium (16-17%) plus 3% molybdenum and 3% copper than Metco 14E or 12C — meaningfully better corrosion resistance in acidic and aqueous process media; Oerlikon ranks Metco 16C alongside Metco 19E as the most corrosion-resistant of the self-fluxing grades
Self-fluxing — boron and silicon scavenge oxides during the fuse cycle, so the deposit ends metallurgically bonded and essentially pore-free with no separate flux and no shielding gas on the fuse step
Spray-and-fuse produces a metallurgical bond at the substrate interface — impact-resistant, not coating-limited, the way friction-bonded thermal spray is
Applies by every major process we run: oxy-fuel flame spray + fuse, HVOF + fuse, plasma spray + fuse, plus PTA for thicker, precisely placed deposits
Can be applied thicker than simpler Ni self-fluxing grades (up to 3 mm / 1/8 in) with better crack resistance — a fit when the wear allowance demands real build-up
~95% deposit efficiency across flame, plasma, and HVOF per Oerlikon's published data — cost-effective powder utilization
Machinable and grindable with carbide/CBN tooling after fusing, though harder than Colmonoy 6 or Metco 14E

Where it doesn't

Not a high-temperature pick — service temperature is capped near 540°C / 1,000°F; above that, chromium borides soften and oxidation accelerates. Choose a cobalt Stellite or a carbide composite if the part runs hotter.
More expensive per pound than simpler Ni self-fluxing alloys like Metco 12C, 14E, or Colmonoy 6 — the Mo and Cu additions drive cost
Crack-sensitive on thick deposits if the thermal cycle isn't managed — preheat, interpass control, and slow cool matter. Metco 16C-NS is specifically formulated for better crack resistance in the >1.5 mm regime, but discipline still applies.
The part has to survive the ~1,950°F fuse temperature — thin-wall parts, heat-treated substrates, and tight tolerances can distort. Candidate selection matters.
Finishing is harder than on Colmonoy 6 or Metco 14E — grinding with CBN or diamond is typical; carbide tooling wears fast
As-sprayed (unfused) deposits are porous and mechanically bonded only — they must be fused or PTA-deposited before seeing corrosive or impact service
Dilution from iron-base substrates on PTA drops hardness and corrosion resistance; tight parameter control is standard

Which process, when?

Flame spray + fuse is the traditional route — lay down a 30-125 mil powder coat with an oxy-acetylene Thermospray gun, then fuse with the same torch at ~1,950°F to produce a dense, metallurgically bonded layer. It's the spray-and-fuse workhorse for pump sleeves, sucker-rod pump barrels, glass-mold plungers, and ag tillage points. HVOF + fuse gives a thinner, denser as-sprayed deposit before the fuse cycle — useful when the part can't accept a heavy spray pass. Plasma spray + fuse is the high-rate option for larger parts. PTA welding deposits Metco 16C-NS at low dilution for thick, precisely-placed overlays on valve trim, rotor heads, and wear bands — no separate fuse cycle needed.

Sources

Data points on this page draw on the following published references. Nothing here replaces a material-specific review by our process engineers — but it's the working starting point.

Oerlikon Metco — Metco 16C-NS Materials E-Guide
“Ni 17Cr 4Si 3.7B 3Fe 2.5Cu 2.5Mo 0.6C self-fluxing alloy. Fused hardness HRC 58-62. Melting point 996°C. Maximum service temperature 540°C. Supplied -125 +53 μm for laser cladding, PTA, and spray-and-fuse powder welding. Suitable for coatings thicker than 1.5 mm with improved crack resistance. Applications: abrasion, adhesive/sliding wear, gas and liquid erosion, solid particle erosion, dimensional restoration in seawater, corrosive liquids, and crude oil contact.”
Oerlikon Metco DSMTS-0026.7 — Nickel and Cobalt Self-Fluxing Alloys
“Metco 16C-NS chemistry: 17.0% Cr, 3.7% B, 4.0% Si, 0.6% C, 3.0% Mo, 2.5% Fe, balance Ni. Covers the Metco 12C / 14E / 15E / 16C / 19E / 17C self-fluxing nickel family. 16C family is the highest hardness (Rc 58-62) nickel self-fluxing grade that does not contain tungsten carbide.”
Metco 10-040 Technical Bulletin — Metco 16C Powder
“Density 7.5 g/cc. Particle size -120 +325 mesh. Melting point 1,010°C (1,850°F). Fusing temperature 1,065°C (1,950°F). Macrohardness Rc 60. Porosity after fuse essentially none. Bonding metallurgical. As-sprayed texture 800-1000 μin aa; as-fused 200-300 μin aa. Deposit efficiency ~95%. Fusing shrinkage ~20%. Coatings to 1/8 in (3 mm) and thicker without difficulty. Of all the Metco self-fluxing alloys, Metco 16C and Metco 19E are generally the most resistant to corrosion. Applications: buffing and polishing fixtures, fuel rod mandrels, plug gages, forging tools, cam followers, pumps, exhaust fans, and exhaust valve seats.”
HTS Coatings — Metco® 16C Material Information
“Nickel-based self-fluxing alloy: 16% Cr, 4% Si, 4% B, 3% Cu, 3% Mo, 2.5% Fe, 0.5% C, balance Ni. Typical coating hardness in the Rc 60 range. Spray-and-fuse remelt produces pore-free, dense, metallurgically bonded deposits up to 3 mm (1/8 in). Excellent abrasion and erosion resistance, superior corrosion resistance to acids and aqueous liquids. Applications: buffing and polishing fixtures, augers and feed screws, forging tools, exhaust fans and valve seats.”
HTS Coatings — Spray and Fuse Coatings
“Oxy-acetylene torch fuses powder coat and substrate surface layer at 1,900-2,050°F, creating a metallurgical bond rather than a friction bond. Coating thickness 0.030-0.060 in typical. Zero porosity after fuse. The most impact-resistant coating family HTS offers. Candidates: high-stress components, pump pistons and plungers, sleeves and augers, ball valves, sucker-pump components, exhaust fans.”
Oerlikon Metco DSM-0263.6 — Nickel- and Cobalt-Based Self-Fluxing Alloys for Thermal Spray
“Covers the full Ni self-fluxing product family (Metco 12C, 14E, 15E, 16C, 19E, 17C). 16C positioned as the high-chromium, molybdenum-containing grade with the highest hardness and best corrosion resistance among molybdenum-free self-fluxing nickel alloys. Applied by oxy-fuel flame spray, HVOF, plasma, and powder welding with post-spray fusion.”
Oerlikon Metco DSM-0412 — Nickel and Cobalt-Based Self-Fluxing Alloy Powders for Weld Cladding
“PTA and laser cladding grades of the self-fluxing nickel family. Metco 16C-NS recommended for coatings thicker than 1.5 mm and for thin coatings on complex geometries requiring crack resistance. Oil & gas, mining, agriculture, glass-mold, and pump OEM/MRO applications.”
Gordon England Surface Engineering Forum — Metco 16C-NS Fusing Discussion
“Practitioner discussion of fusing-cycle control for Metco 16C-NS: preheat, torch distance, and thermal-cycle management on thicker deposits; cracking risk is real if the fuse is rushed or the part is cold-spotted.”
Oerlikon Metco Joining & Cladding — Oil and Gas Applications
“Nickel-based self-fluxing alloys used on sucker-rod couplings, downhole tubing, valve trim, and pump internals in mildly corrosive produced-fluid service; PTA and laser cladding of Ni-Cr-B-Si-Mo grades is standard for crude-oil-contact wear and corrosion protection.”

Material data on this page is provided as a general reference and can vary by lot, substrate, and application. Contact HTS to confirm the right material and specification for your specific part.

Metco 16C

Technical data

Where it earns its keep

Where it doesn't

Typical applications

Wear modes addressed

Industries

Substrates

Which process, when?

Sources

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