Effect of Dry-Ice Blasting on Structure and Magnetic Properties of Plasma-Sprayed Fe-40Al Coating from Nanostructured Powders

Amorphous and nanocrystalline materials have attracted much interest in the field of new materials design because of their excellent mechanical and physical properties as well as their magnetic properties. In this work, Fe-40Al coatings were prepared from a nanostructured feedstock by atmospheric plasma spray combined with dry-ice blasting. The scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, tensile test, and magnetic measurements were used to investigate microstructure, phase structure, adhesion, and magnetic properties of the deposited coatings. The results showed that after using dry-ice blasting, the oxidation and porosity decreased and the atmospheric plasma-sprayed Fe-40Al coatings exhibited a soft ferromagnetic character with lower coercivity and higher saturation magnetization due to their lower degree of order. The plasma-sprayed Fe-40Al coating from the nanostructured feedstock has a very high adhesive strength.     

Nanostructured Al-Based Metal Matrix Composite Coating Production by Pulsed Gas Dynamic Spraying Process

The advantage of combining cryomilling and pulsed gas dynamic spraying (PGDS) processes in order to produce a nanostructured, dense and wear resistant coating was demonstrated. Cryomilling was successfully employed to synthesize particulate B₄C reinforced Al matrix nanocomposite feedstock powders, while the PGDS process shows the ability of preserving the microstructure of the starting material. In this study, nanocrystalline and conventional Al5356?+?20%B₄C composite as well as the unreinforced Al5356 alloy feedstock powders were used. The influence of the nature of the feedstock material on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the coatings was studied. The PGDS process provides an opportunity to preserve the phase of the starting material, to produce hard and dense coatings with good cohesion between deformed particles and good adhesion to the substrate. High dry sliding wear resistance was observed when cryomilled composite material was used.     

Corrosion and Nano-mechanical Behaviors of Magnetron Sputtered Al-Mo Gradient Coated Steel

A gradient three-layer Al-Mo coating was deposited on steel using magnetron sputtering method. The corrosion and nano-mechanical properties of the coating were examined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and nano-indentation tests and compared with the conventional electroplated cadmium and IVD aluminum coatings. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed by immersing the coated specimens in 3.5% NaCl solution, and the impedance behavior was recorded as a function of immersion time. The mechanical properties (hardness and elastic modulus) were obtained from each indentation as a function of the penetration depth across the coating cross section. The adhesion resistance of the coatings was evaluated by scratch tests on the coated surface using nano-indentation method. The results show that the gradient Al-Mo coating exhibits better corrosion resistance than the other coatings in view of the better microstructure. The impedance results were modeled using appropriate electrical equivalent circuits for all the coated systems. The uniform, smooth and dense Al-Mo coating obtained by magnetron sputtering exhibits good adhesion with the steel substrate as per scratch test method. The poor corrosion resistance of the later coatings was shown to be due to the defects/cracks as well as the lesser adhesion of the coatings with steel. The hardness and elastic modulus of the Al-Mo coating are found to be high when compared to the other coatings.     

New adhesion measurement technique for coated cutting tool materials

Adhesion properties of wear resistant coatings on cutting tool materials are essential to their performance in technical applications. It is therefore necessary to characterize the coating adhesion by an appropriate measurement technique which reveals both critical adhesion values as well as information on time dependent debonding. In particular, a quantitative and reproducible technique is required rather than largely qualitative methods such as indent or scratch tests. In addition, for multilayer coatings, the location of the weakest interface is required to facilitate improvement of interfacial integrity. Accordingly a sandwich double cantilever beam (DCB) test was developed and used to measure the adhesion properties of coatings on cermets. Additionally, the structure of the coatings in the as fabricated state and after mechanical testings were characterized by optical microscopy, SEM and TEM. With quantitative adhesion measurements and investigations of the interface microstructure, a comprehensive characterization of coating adhesion on cutting toolmaterials was achieved.     

Adhesion and dynamic impact wear of nanocomposite TiC-based coatings prepared by DCMS and HiPIMS

Nanocomposite nc-TiC/a-C:H coatings exhibit a unique combination of mechanical properties such as high hardness, and low friction and wear. These physical and mechanical properties make those coatings attractive for application in industry. However, the properties of the whole coating/substrate system such as adhesion of the coating to substrate and its response on repeated impact loading known such as dynamic impact wear are also important for industrial applications. Thus, this paper is focused on the adhesion and the dynamic impact wear of nc-TiC/a-C:H coatings prepared by the hybrid PVD-PECVD process. Two series of nc-TiC/a-C:H coatings with a different amount of carbon were deposited onto commonly used industrial cemented tungsten carbide substrates using DC magnetron sputtering (DCMS) and the high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) of a titanium target in argon and acetylene mixture atmosphere. Both series of coatings were analysed using a scratch test and dynamic impact tester with an impact load of 600 N. The HiPIMS prepared coatings exhibited lower thickness and lower thicknesses of the Ti adhesive interlayers between the substrates and coatings than the DCMS prepared coatings. Thus, the adhesion and the impact wear of both series were discussed separately. These properties were discussed with respect to the coating microstructure, phase composition and mechanical properties such as the hardness H, the effective elastic modulus E, and the H/E and H³/E² ratios. The scratch adhesion of coatings depended on the H³/E² ratio and coating microstructure, hardness and surface roughness. The impact wear of the nc-TiC/a-C:H coatings depended on the H/E ratio and coating microstructure.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of B4C reinforced Al-based matrix composite coatings deposited by CGDS and PGDS processes

Coatings of a composite material consisting of an Al-12Si matrix reinforced with 20 wt.% B₄C particles were produced using Cold Gas Dynamic Spray (CGDS) and Pulsed Gas Dynamic Spray (PGDS) processes onto Al-6061 and SS-316L substrates. Two types of composite feedstock powders (mechanically mixed and cryomilled) were used. The influence of the coating process as well as the nature of the feedstock material on the coating microstructure and mechanical properties was studied. The combination of cryomilling to synthesize the feedstock powder and the spray processes provides a unique opportunity to produce hard and dense composite coatings with good cohesion between the deformed particles and good adhesion to the substrate, no phase degradation, very low compressive stresses and high dry sliding wear resistance. The two spray processes have shown almost similar results regarding microstructure and mechanical properties. No effect of the substrate material, Al-6061 and SS-316L, on the coating microstructure and properties was observed.     

Mechanical and tribological properties evaluation of cathodic arc deposited CrN/ZrN multilayer coatings

Five nanostructured CrN/ZrN multilayer coatings were deposited periodically by cathodic arc evaporation. The bilayer periods of the CrN/ZrN multilayer coatings were controlled in the range of 5 to 30 nm. The structures and bilayer period of the multilayer coatings were characterized by an X-ray diffractometer. The microstructures of thin films were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. Nanoindentation, scratch tests, Daimler–Benz Rockwell-C (HRC-DB) adhesion tests, microhardness and pin-on-disk wear tests were used to evaluate the hardness, adhesion, indentation toughness and tribological properties of thin films, respectively. It was found that the hardness and tribological properties were strongly influenced by the bilayer period of the CrN/ZrN multilayer coatings. An optimal combination of mechanical properties and excellent tribological behavior was found for a coating with a critical bilayer period of 30 nm.     

Modification of biomedical NiTi shape memory alloy by TiC/Ti films using PIIID

TiC/Ti coatings were deposited on the surface of Ti-50.6 at.% Ni alloy by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIIID) technique. The microstructure, mechanical properties and hemocompatibility of the samples were investigated by means of XRD, AFM, nanoindentation, and scratch and platelet adhesion tests. The result of XRD analysis shows that the crystalline TiC coating has a preferential orientation of (111) in the normal direction. The surface presents a very smooth and dense microstructure with 1.517 nm root mean square roughness (RMS). The average hardness and modulus values of the TiC coating are much higher than those of the NiTi substrate. In the initial stage of scratching, some obvious transversal cracks and worm-like cracks spreading into the film from both side of the scratch track were observed. At higher normal loads for the scratching test, the film delaminated from the substrate at the margins of the substrate. Platelet adhesion tests demonstrate that the hemocompatibility of the coated sample is improved.     

Wear and corrosion behavior of CrCN/CrN coatings deposited by cathodic arc evaporation on nitrided 42CrMo4 steel substrates

In the paper, the results of wear and corrosion tests of the CrCN/CrN multilayer coatings, formed by cathodic arc evaporation on 42CrMo4 (AISI 4140) steel substrates are presented. The substrates were subjected to thermo-chemical treatment–nitriding with various nitriding potential. The results of nitriding were determined by XRD and the hardness profile in the samples cross-section. The morphology of thin coatings was examined with SEM. A Vickers FV-700 and Fisherscope HM2000 hardness testers enabled to investigate hardness of steel substrates and CrCN/CrN coatings respectively. A pin-on-disc wear tests were used to determine the hardness and tribological parameters of the coatings: the coefficient of the friction and wear rate. The scratch test and Rockwell test were applied to assess the adhesion of the coatings to the substrates. The corrosion properties of coating–steel substrate systems were investigated using potentiodynamic polarisation tests. Corrosion potential, corrosion current density and polarization resistance were determined. It was found that that the nitriding of steel substrates improves properties of the coating–substrate system. The nitriding 42CrMo4 steel substrate with low nitriding potential enable to obtain substrates without surface “white layer” what favours good adhesion of the coating to the substrate. The CrCN/CrN multilayer coating–steel substrate systems show good mechanical and tribological properties and corrosion resistance.     

Mechanical property variations within thermal barrier coatings

The mechanical properties of nanostructured yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings were investigated using an instrumented indentation technique. Coatings were produced using the Triple-Torch Plasma Reactor (TTPR) where three plasma jet plumes converge to form a single jet where powder is injected axially. Partially fused clusters of sub-micron particles are characteristic for the coating microstructure. Flattened particles, termed as splats that are typical for conventional YSZ coatings were not observed.The microstructure exhibits a low isotropy that is related to variations in mechanical properties that are measured in directions parallel (normal to the coating plane) and perpendicular to the spray direction (in the plane of the coating). The microstructure of the nanostructured coating, which is different from a conventional coating, has a significant effect on the anisotropy of the mechanical properties. The in-plane elastic modulus of the nanostructured coating is lower than the normal modulus, as opposed to a conventional YSZ coating where the ratio is inversed. Multiple indentations arranged in arrays were used to map the variation in mechanical properties. Indentation results obtained using spherical and Vickers indenters are compared.     

Characterization of mechanical properties of suspension plasma sprayed TiO2 coatings using scratch test

The study aimed at characterizing mechanical properties of TiO₂ coatings obtained by the use of aqueous suspensions of fine rutile and anatase particles onto metal substrates. Thickness of the coatings was found with the use of optical microscope observations of metallographical cross-sections. The coatings morphology was found with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and their phase composition was determined by X-ray diffraction method. The mechanical properties were characterized using scratch test. The test enabled to characterize the adhesion of coatings by determination of critical force necessary to peel off the coatings from the substrate and, on the other hand, to estimate their cohesion by the measurement of the scratch hardness. The hardness was calculated using the width of the scratch and the value of force applied. The design of experiments (DOE) of spraying with the use of a 2³ full factorial plan was applied to rutile powder. The coatings were sprayed onto aluminium substrate. The DOE enabled to find the effects of three principal parameters, i.e. electric power input to plasma, spray distance and suspension feed rate onto coating adhesion expressed by critical force. A preliminary data for anatase powder sprayed with one set of operational parameters onto stainless steel substrate are also shown.     

爆炸喷涂WC-12%Co涂层的滑动磨损性能

采用爆炸喷涂技术制备纳米和普通WC-12%Co涂层,用往复试验机对涂层的干滑动磨损性能进行了研究,分析了涂层磨损前后的形貌、结构及成分变化.结果表明:相同的喷涂条件下,WC-12%Co纳米涂层比普通涂层结构均匀、致密,但碳化物分解严重.尽管纳米涂层与普通涂层具有相近的硬度,但普通涂层的耐磨性优于纳米涂层,尤其是在重载条件下.普通涂层的磨损机制为微切削;纳米涂层在轻载(10 N)下,以塑性变形为主要磨损机制,随载荷增加至30 N,纳米WC粒子不能起到阻抗陶瓷球对磨副的磨削作用,而是随粘结相一起被去除,同时由于纳米涂层脱碳导致的层间结合薄弱,在滑动磨损中易发生成片剥落,耐磨性大幅下降.     

Characterisations of low phosphorus electroless Ni and composite electroless Ni-P-SiC coatings on A356 aluminium alloy

A low phosphorus electroless nickel coating of Ni-2.5?wt-%P alloy and a composite coating of Ni-5?wt-%P-SiC were prepared on A356 aluminium alloy substrates using two types of electroless bath solutions, an alkaline bath for low phosphorus and acidic for composite plating. The coatings morphologies have been characterised using optical and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, X-ray diffraction, microhardness, reciprocating wear testing and adhesion tests have been conducted to characterise structure and mechanical properties of the resulting coatings. The results obtained revealed that a crack-free and homogeneous coating could be produced using an optimum bath formulation. The maximum thickness of the composite coatings was 50?µm, the thickness of coatings tested. The composite coating was more resistant to wear in comparison to the low phosphorus nickel one, but had lower adhesion.     

Effect of prior plasma nitriding applied to a hot-work tool steel on the scratch-resistant properties of PACVD TiBN and TiCN coatings

Ternary TiBN and TiCN coatings on a hot-work tool steel substrate with and without plasma nitriding (PN) prior to plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (PACVD) were investigated. Compositional analysis with a radio frequency glow discharge optical emission spectroscope (rf-GDOES) showed mixtures of TiBN + TiN and TiCN + TiN in the PACVD TiBN and TiCN coatings, respectively. Each coating layer had a compositional gradient across the coating depth and slightly into the substrate. The microhardness profiles (HV_0.1) of the substrate with and without PN from the interface with the coating to the substrate core were determined. The depth of the effective nitrided diffusion layer was confirmed from the examination of its optical microstructure. The adhesion of these two coatings to the substrate was evaluated through scratch tests in the progressive mode. It was found that with increasing load, both of the coatings on the substrate with and without prior nitriding deteriorated in the same failure modes. Critical loads corresponding to the first microcracking related to cohesive failure, spallation related to adhesive failure, breakthrough and worn out were determined and used to quantify the scratch resistance of these coatings. With PN prior to PACVD, both the cohesion and adhesion properties of the TiBN and TiCN coatings were remarkably improved. This improvement was attributed to a functionally gradient hardness configuration from the coating through the nitrided diffusion layer to the substrate.     

Influence of laser substrate pretreatment on anti-adhesive wear properties of WC/Co-based TiAlN coatings against AISI 316 stainless steel

To improve the anti-adhesive wear properties of WC/Co-based TiAlN coatings, a laser substrate surface pretreatment was examined. The cemented carbide substrates were textured with a Nd:YAG laser, in three different scanning speeds, and then coated with a PVD TiAlN film. The anti-adhesive wear properties of each surface were evaluated via the ball-on-disk wear test and turning experiments. Additionally, characterization tests such as variable depth scratch test were also performed in order to verify the coating adhesiveness and to explain the results of the wear and machining tests. The results reveal that the anti-adhesive wear properties of the three TiAlN coated textured samples are significantly improved over that of the conventional one; the adhesion of TiAlN coatings is greatly improved by using Nd:YAG laser substrate pretreatment. Moreover, laser-scanning speed has a profound effect on the adhesion strength of the pretreated samples. In the experiments, the lowest scanning speed (5 mm/s) is most effective in providing a greater mechanical locking of the coatings upon the substrate and a more matching chemical property between substrate and coating materials, thus increasing the critical load of the coatings. Meanwhile, the adhered workpiece material layer is more stable on the pretreated sample irradiated at 5 mm/s. Hence, potential wear protecting properties of the in-situ formed layer can be conserved.     

Biocompatible nanostructured high-velocity oxyfuel sprayed titania coating: Deposition, characterization, and mechanical properties

Nanostructured titania (TiO₂) coatings were produced by high-velocity oxyfuel (HVOF) spraying. They were engineered as a possible candidate to replace hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings produced by thermal spray on implants. The HVOF sprayed nanostructured titania coatings exhibited mechanical properties, such as hardness and bond strength, much superior to those of HA thermal spray coatings. In addition to these characteristics, the surface of the nanostructured coatings exhibited regions with nanotextured features originating from the semimolten nanostructured feedstock particles. It is hypothesized that these regions may enhance osteoblast adhesion on the coating by creating a better interaction with adhesion proteins, such as fibronectin, which exhibit dimensions in the order of nanometers. Preliminary osteoblast cell culture demonstrated that this type of HVOF sprayed nanostructured titania coating supported osteoblast cell growth and did not negatively affect cell viability. This article was originally published inBuilding on 100 Years of Success, Proceedings of the 2006 International Thermal Spray Conference (Seattle, WA), May 15–18, 2006, B.R. Marple, M.M. Hyland, Y.-Ch. Lau, R.S. Lima, and J. Voyer, Ed., ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2006.     

Formation Routes of Nanocomposite Coatings in Detonation Spraying of Ti3SiC2-Cu Powders

In thermally sprayed coatings, nano-sized features of the microstructure may be either inherited from the nanostructured agglomerates of the feedstock powder or form as a result of rapid cooling of molten particles upon deposition. Applying a process of the computer-controlled detonation spraying (CCDS) to Ti₃SiC₂-Cu composite powders produced by high-energy mechanical milling, we show that both routes are possible depending on the spraying conditions. When the nanostructure of the Ti₃SiC₂-Cu coating is inherited from the feedstock powder—under very mild conditions of detonation spraying, which exclude melting, so is the phase composition of the coating. In higher-temperature conditions of spraying, a significant fraction of the copper matrix melts and the interaction between Ti₃SiC₂ and Cu occurs. The TiC _x -Cu(Si) coatings that form show crystallites of both phases in the nano-range. In this case, rapid solidification of the molten fraction of the particles is responsible for the formation of the coatings with a nanostructured matrix. Due to the flexibility of the CCDS process, conditions of spraying were found such that a composite coating with very fine crystallites of the Cu(Si) matrix (30 nm) and a hardness of 273 HV could be obtained.     

Effect of flame conditions on abrasive wear performance of HVOF sprayed nanostructured WC-12Co coatings

Nanostructured WC-12Co coatings were deposited by high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) spraying with an agglomerated powder. The effect of flame conditions on the microstructure of the nanostructured coatings was investigated. The wear properties of the coatings were characterized using a dry rubber-wheel wear test. The results show that the nanostructured WC-Co coatings consist of WC, W2C, W and an amorphous binder phase. The microstructure of the coating is significantly influenced by the ratio of oxygen flow to fuel flow. Under the lower ratio of oxygen/fuel flow, the nanostructured coating presents a relative dense microstructure and severe decarburization of WC phase occurs during spraying. With increasing ratio of oxygen/fuel flow, the bonding of WC particles in the coating becomes loose resulting from the original structure of feedstock and the decarburization of WC becomes less owing to limited heating to the powder. Both the decarburization of WC particles in spraying and the bonding among WC particles in the coatings affect the wear performance. The examination of the worn surfaces of the nanostructured coatings reveals that the dominant wear mechanisms would be spalling from the interface of WCCo splats when spray particles undergo a limited melting. While the melting state of the spray particles is improved,the dominant wear mechanisms become the plastic deformation and plowing of the matrix and spalling of WC particles from the matrix.     

Mechanical and tribological evaluation of PVD WC/C coatings

Five different WC/C coatings deposited by physical vapour deposition (PVD) on high speed-steel (HSS) have been evaluated with respect to their mechanical and tribological properties. For all coatings a chromium layer was deposited first to enhance coating adhesion. The carbide phase (WC) and the carbon (C) phase were deposited simultaneously by direct-current magnetron sputtering of a WC target and plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition using hydrocarbon gas, respectively. The influence of the chromium interface layer thickness, the amount of WC phase and the flow of hydrocarbon gas on the mechanical and tribological properties of the coatings have been investigated. The coatings have been characterised with respect to their chemical composition (glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy), hardness (Vickers microhardness), morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM), roughness (profilometry), residual stress (beam bending), critical load (scratch testing) and abrasive wear resistance (the “dimple grinder test”). Furthermore, a ball-on-plate test was employed to obtain information about the frictional properties and sliding wear resistance of the coatings. The wear mechanisms and wear debris were analysed by SEM, Auger electron spectroscopy and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. All WC/C coatings displayed a thickness between 2 and 4 μm and a surface roughness in the range of 10 to 70 nm. The hardness varied between 1500 and 1800 HV. The coating residual stress was found to range from −2.5 to −0.5 GPa. The scratch test revealed a relatively high critical normal load, i.e., a relatively good adhesion of the WC/C coatings to the HSS. The abrasive wear resistance was found to be very high, in fact equally as high as that of PVD TiN. In the sliding wear test it could be seen that the coating containing the lowest amount of carbide phase (WC), i.e., the highest amount of carbon phase (C), and which had the highest compressive residual stress yielded the lowest friction and wear rate against steel. In addition, this coating was also found to yield the lowest wear rate of the counter material. In summary, a WC/C coating with overall good mechanical and tribological properties was obtained provided a relatively thin chromium layer was deposited first and if a relatively high acetylene gas flow was utilised during deposition of the WC/C layer.     

激光重熔纳米Al2O3-13%TiO2陶瓷涂层组织及性能

为了进一步提高等离子喷涂纳米Al2O3-13%TiO2(质量分数, 下同)复合陶瓷涂层的性能,在γ-TiAl基体材料表面采用激光重熔工艺对涂层进行处理,研究了激光重熔对涂层微观组织和性能的影响.用扫描电镜(SEM)和显微硬度计分析了涂层形貌、微观结构和显微硬度,同时对涂层的磨损特性进行了考察.结果表明,等离子喷涂纳米陶瓷涂层由纳米颗粒完全熔化区和部分熔化区两部分组成,仍然具有等离子喷涂态的典型层状结构.经过激光重熔后,形成了致密细小的等轴晶重熔区、烧结区和残余等离子喷涂区,由于激光快速加热和快速冷却加工特点,在重熔区仍保留了部分来源于原等离子喷涂部分熔化区的残留纳米粒子.与常规等离子喷涂陶瓷涂层相比,纳米结构涂层可在一定程度上提高其硬度和耐磨性,经过激光重熔后其硬度和耐磨性进一步提高.