TEM analysis and wear resistance of the ceramic coatings on Q235 steel prepared by hybrid method of hot-dipping aluminum and plasma electrolytic oxidation

The hybrid method of PEO and hot-dipping aluminum (HDA) was employed to deposit composite ceramic coatings on the surface of Q235 steel. The composition of the composite coatings was investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The cross-section microstructure and micro-hardness of the treated specimens were investigated and analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microscopic hardness meter (MHM), respectively. The wear resistance of the ceramic coatings was investigated by a self-made rubbing wear testing machine. The results indicate that metallurgical bonding can be observed between the ceramic coatings and the steel substrate. There are many micro-pores and micro-cracks, which act as the discharge channels and result of quick and non-uniform cooling of melted sections in the plasma electrolytic oxidation ceramic coatings. The phase composition of the ceramic coatings is mainly composed of amorphous phase and crystal Al₂O₃ oxides. The crystal Al₂O₃ phase includes κ-Al₂O₃, θ-Al₂O₃ and β-Al₂O₃. The grain size of the κ-Al₂O₃ crystal is quite non-uniform. The hardness of the ceramic coatings is about HV1300 and 10 times higher than that of the Q235 substrate, which was favorable to the better wear resistance of the ceramic coatings.     

Effects of Al2O3 Nanopowders on the Wear Behavior of NiTi Shape Memory Alloys

TiNi shape memory alloy and its composite using δ-Al₂O₃ nanosize particles were prepared by the powder metallurgy method, and some mechanical properties like hardness, wear, and corrosion behavior were investigated. The experimental results exhibited that the lower wear rate was obtained for the nano-Al₂O₃-reinforced Ti alloy composite due to increased hardness, but the wear rate increased considerably with increasing the load over 25 N for Ti alloy. However, the best corrosion resistance was obtained for the base alloy, which is very important for implant applications.     

Preparation of nanostructured Ni/Al2O3 composite coatings in high magnetic field

Ni/Al₂O₃ composite coatings were prepared by a novel method from a modified Watt's type electrolyte containing nano-Al₂O₃ particles, where a high magnetic field was imposed in the direction parallel to an electrolytic current instead of mechanical agitation. Effects of magnetic field on the content of particles, surface morphology, microhardness and wear resistance of plating layer were investigated. It was found that the high magnetic field played an important role in the formation of composite coatings. The amounts of nano-Al₂O₃ particles in the composite coating increased with increasing of magnetic flux density and reached a maximum value at 8 T, then reduced slightly. The microhardness and wear resistance of the nanocomposite coatings also enhanced with increasing of magnetic flux density as compared to that of pure Ni coating fabricated in the absence of magnetic field. That was because the co-deposited nano-Al₂O₃ particles were uniformly distributed in the Ni matrix and contributed to greatly increase the microhardness and wear resistance of the composite coatings. Moreover, the mechanism of action of high magnetic field was discussed preliminarily.     

Characterization of Microstructure and Wear Resistance of PEO Coatings Containing Various Microparticles on Ti6Al4V Alloy

Titania-based composite coatings were prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) treatment of Ti6Al4V alloy in electrolyte with α-Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃ or h-BN microparticles in suspension. The microstructure, composition of PEO composite coatings were analyzed by SEM, EDS and XRD. The wear resistance of composite ceramic coatings was studied by ball-on-disk wear test at ambient temperature and 300 °C. The results showed that the addition of microparticles accelerated the growth rate of PEO coating and changed the microstructure and composition of PEO coating. PEO coating was porous and mainly composed of rutile-TiO₂, anatase-TiO₂ and Al₂TiO₅. PEO/α-Al₂O₃ (Cr₂O₃ or h-BN) composite coating only had small micropores and appeared some α-Al₂O₃ (Cr₂O₃ or h-BN) phase. Besides, the addition of α-Al₂O₃ (Cr₂O₃ or h-BN) microparticles greatly improved the wear resistance of PEO coating. At ambient temperature, abrasive wear dominated the wear behavior of PEO coating, but abrasive wear and adhesive peel simultaneously happened at 300 °C. Whether at ambient temperature or 300 °C, PEO composite coating had better wear resistance than PEO coating. Besides, PEO/h-BN composite coating outperformed other composite coatings regardless of the temperature.     

Effect of applied current on the electrodeposited Ni-Al2O3 composite coatings

Nano-sized Al₂O₃ ceramic particles (50 nm) were co-deposited with nickel using electrodeposition technique to develop composite coatings. The coatings were produced in an aqueous nickel bath at different current densities and the research investigated the effect of applied current on microstructure and thickness of the coatings. The variation in some mechanical properties such as hardness, wear resistance, and the adhesive strength of the composite coatings is influenced by the applied current and this was also studied. The morphology of the coatings was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The hardness, wear resistance, and bond strength of the coatings were evaluated by Vickers micro-hardness test, pin-on-disc test, and tensile test, respectively. Results showed that the Al₂O₃ particles were uniformly distributed in the coatings, and the coatings deposited at a current density of 0.01 A/cm² was most favorable in achieving a maximum current efficiency which causes the co-deposition of a maximum amount of Al₂O₃ particles (4.3 wt.%) in the coatings. The increase in Al₂O₃ particles in the coatings increased the mechanical properties of the Ni-Al₂O₃ composite coatings by grain refining and dispersion strengthening mechanisms.     

Effects of critical plasma spray parameter and spray distance on wear resistance of Al2O3-8 wt.%TiO2 coatings plasma-sprayed with nanopowders

Effects of plasma spraying conditions on wear resistance of nanostructured Al₂O₃-8 wt.%TiO₂ coatings plasma-sprayed with nanopowders were investigated in this study. Five kinds of nanostructured coatings were plasma-sprayed on a low-carbon steel substrate by varying critical plasma spray parameter (CPSP) and spray distance. The coatings consisted of fully melted region of γ-Al₂O₃ and partially melted region, and the fraction of the partially melted regions and pores decreased with increasing CPSP or decreasing spray distance. The hardness and wear test results revealed that the hardness of the coatings increased with increasing CPSP or decreasing spray distance, and that the hardness increase generally led to the increase in wear resistance, although the hardness and wear resistance were not correlated in the coating fabricated with the low CPSP. The main wear mechanism was a delamination one in the coatings, but an abrasive wear mode also appeared in the coating fabricated with the low CPSP. According to these wear mechanisms, the improvement of wear resistance in the coating fabricated with the low CPSP could be explained because the improved resistance to fracture due to the presence of partially melted regions might compensate a deleterious effect of the hardness decrease.     

The influence of sodium tungstate concentration and anodizing conditions on microarc oxidation (MAO) coatings for aluminum alloy

Microarc oxidation (MAO) coatings on 5052 aluminum alloy are prepared in silicate–hypophosphite electrolytes with sodium tungstate. The effects of sodium tungstate concentrations and current density on the surface morphology, phase composition and properties of the coatings are investigated. With the addition of sodium tungstate in the electrolyte and increase of current density, the final voltage at the microarc discharge process increases. The results also show that the MAO coatings are composed mainly of α-Al₂O₃ and γ-Al₂O₃ and the proportion of α-Al₂O₃ and γ-Al₂O₃, pore size, surface roughness as well as thickness of the coatings strongly depend on the sodium tungstate concentration and current density. Thus, the hardness, friction coefficient and corrosion resistance of the coatings are significantly influenced by the magnitude of the current density and sodium tungstate concentration. These oxide films on aluminum were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thickness gage, and polarization curves, respectively.     

不同纳米WS2含量Ni-P-Ti N-WS_(2)复合化学镀层的制备及其摩擦学性能EI北大核心CSCD

Ni-P-TiN化学复合镀层具有比Ni-P镀层更高的硬度和耐磨性,但其表面粗糙度大,与对偶件之间的摩擦因数高,应用潜力受到限制。通过在化学镀液中添加不同用量的纳米WS_(2)颗粒和固定用量的TiN颗粒,在低碳钢表面制备Ni-P-TiN-WS_(2)复合镀层。采用X射线能谱仪(EDS)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线衍射仪(XRD)对镀层的化学成分(质量分数)、表面形貌及微观结构进行表征,并利用球盘式摩擦磨损试验机测试复合镀层的摩擦磨损性能。结果表明:纳米WS_(2)颗粒与纳米TiN颗粒的共沉积可使镀层表面更加致密、平整。随着镀液中纳米WS_(2)用量的增加,复合镀层的硬度先减小后增大,与氮化硅陶瓷球的摩擦因数则先升后降,磨损率显著下降,耐磨性增强。镀液中纳米WS_(2)粉末的用量为2.5 g/L时复合镀层的摩擦学性能最佳。纳米WS_(2)颗粒的加入及用量优化可显著改善复合镀层的综合性能,可为发展高耐磨低摩擦因数的先进涂层提供借鉴。     

Effect of Submicron and Nano SiC Particles on Erosion Wear and Scratch Behavior of Plasma-Sprayed Al2O3/8YSZ Coatings

This paper reports studies into the effect of submicron and nano SiC particles on microstructure, phase composition, hardness, erosion wear, and scratch behavior of Al₂O₃-20wt.%8YSZ (ZrO₂ + 8 wt.% Y₂O₃) coatings fabricated by atmospheric plasma spraying. The failure mode of erosion wear and scratch for coatings was established and analyzed. The hardness, density, erosion wear, and anti-scratch resistance of coatings fabricated from plasma treating feedstocks were higher than that of coatings made from sintering feedstocks. The erosion wear rate of coatings with SiC was evidently decreased, and there was some small debris on worn surface with characteristic of translamellar fracture. The spallation, fracture, plough, and cracking were main failure mechanism for coatings. In the scratch process, the critical load of coating with SiC was increased. The crack growth resistance of coatings was analyzed from crack length at end of scratch test.     

原位生成 WC-B4C 增强镍基激光熔覆层及其性能研究

目的通过激光熔覆技术,在Q235钢表面原位生成WC-B4C增强镍基熔覆层。方法以WO3,B2O3,C和Ni60混合粉末为预涂原料,采用激光熔覆技术原位生成WC-B4C增强镍基熔覆层,对熔覆层的显微组织和物相构成进行分析,研究其摩擦磨损性能。结果采用合适的工艺参数,通过原位生成WC-B4C形成的增强镍基涂层形貌良好,与基材呈现较好的冶金结合。熔覆层平均硬度1200HV0.3,摩擦磨损失重仅为纯Ni60熔覆层的1/3。结论熔覆层硬度较高,耐磨性很好。大量原位生成的WC-B4C增强相及其均匀分布是熔覆层硬度和耐磨性提高的原因。     

Electroless Ni-P and Ni-P-Al2O3 Nanocomposite Coatings and Their Corrosion and Wear Resistance

In an effort to utilize beneficial aspects of nanoparticles in providing corrosion and wear resistance, electroless Ni-P and Ni-P-Al₂O₃ nanocomposite coatings were produced. Alumina particles with various contents from 5 to 20 g/L in bath were co-deposited within Ni-P deposits on mild steel (ms) substrate. Coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology, energy dispersive analysis of x-ray EDAX for analyzing elemental composition and x-ray diffractometry for investigating the structural changes of their components. Electrochemical and immersion measurements were used to analyze corrosion behavior of the coatings in 3.5% NaCl solution. Wear resistance of the coating was measured by pin-on-disc method. The results indicated that the Ni-P-Al₂O₃ coatings provide the high hardness as compare to the Ni-P coating. Corrosion and wear resistance of coatings is observed to be superior to that of ms. Corrosion protection properties of the coatings are found to be affected with continuous exposure to the electrolyte. Coating with high concentration of alumina is exhibiting high wear resistance than Ni-P coating. Wear mechanism in case of Ni-P coating appears to be adhesive type and seems to change to abrasive type on introduction of alumina.     

Fabrication and Properties of Plasma-Sprayed Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Composite Coatings

Al₂O₃ /xZrO₂ (where x = 0, 3, 13, and 20 wt.%) composite coatings were deposited onto mild steel substrates by atmospheric plasma spraying of mixed α-Al₂O₃ and nano-sized monoclinic-ZrO₂ powders. Microstructural investigation showed that the coatings comprised well-separated Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ lamellae, pores, and partially molten particles. The coating comprised mainly of metastable γ-Al₂O₃ and tetragonal-ZrO₂ with trace of original α-Al₂O₃ and monoclinic-ZrO₂ phases. The effect of ZrO₂ addition on the properties of coatings were investigated in terms of microhardness, fracture toughness, and wear behavior. It was found that ZrO₂ improved the fracture toughness, reduced friction coefficient, and wear rate of the coatings.     

Investigation on the corrosion and oxidation resistance of Ni-Al2O3 nano-composite coatings prepared by sediment co-deposition

Ni-Al₂O₃ composite coatings were prepared by using sediment co-deposition (SCD) technique from a Watt's type electrolyte containing nano-Al₂O₃ particles. The corrosion resistance and high temperature oxidation resistance of resulting composite coatings were investigated. It was found that the incorporation of nano-Al₂O₃ particles in Ni matrix refined the Ni crystal and changed the preferential orientation of composite coatings. Meanwhile, the corrosion and oxidation resistance were improved after the incorporation of nano-Al₂O₃ particles into Ni matrix. The nano-Al₂O₃ content in deposits plays an important role for improving the corrosion and oxidation protection. The corrosion and oxidation resistance of Ni-Al₂O₃ nano-composite coatings produced via SCD technique are superior to that of CEP technique. Compared to pure Ni and Ni-Al₂O₃ composite coatings fabricated using CEP technique, the Ni-7.58 wt.% Al₂O₃ composite coating obtained by SCD technique exhibits better corrosion resistance and enhanced high temperature oxidation resistance. Moreover, the mechanism of corrosion and high temperature oxidation resistance of Ni-Al₂O₃ nano-composite coatings are discussed.     

2024铝合金微弧氧化/TiC复合膜的制备及耐磨性能

在含有TiC微粒的硅酸盐体系电解液中对2024铝合金进行微弧氧化处理,制备含有TiC成分的复合陶瓷膜。利用SEM、EDS、XRD观察分析复合陶瓷膜的微观形貌、膜层中主要成分沿截面方向的分布及膜层的相结构,用纳米压痕硬度仪、激光共聚焦显微镜、摩擦磨损试验机测量复合陶瓷膜的硬度、表面粗糙度及摩擦系数。观察磨痕形貌,采用激光共聚焦显微镜测量磨痕体积,评估磨损率。结果表明:与不含TiC微粒的电解液中制备的微弧氧化膜相比,复合陶瓷膜的硬度更高、摩擦系数更小、磨损率更低,复合陶瓷膜的磨损率仅为微弧氧化膜的1/12,耐磨性更好。     

TC4钛合金表面激光熔覆WC增强镍基复合涂层的组织及耐磨性

为提高TC4钛合金的耐磨性,利用激光熔覆技术(laser cladding,LC)在TC4钛合金表面制备Ni60+50%WC(体积分数)和deloro22(d22)粉末打底+(Ni60+50%WC)2种耐磨复合涂层。采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、能谱仪(EDS)以及X射线衍射仪(XRD)来表征涂层的微观结构和物相组成;使用HV-1000显微维氏硬度计、HRS-2M型高速往复摩擦磨损试验机和WDW-100D电子万能试验机来分析涂层的性能。结果表明:2种涂层均由W₂C、TiC、Ni₁₇W₃、Ni₃Ti和Ti_xW_1-x相组成,2种涂层不仅与基体呈现出优异的冶金结合,而且组织均匀致密,没有裂纹瑕疵;由于涂层中存在着原位合成的硬质相和细晶强化共同作用使得涂层硬度显著提高,约为TC4基体的2.82倍;2种涂层的摩擦系数(COF)和磨损量都远低于TC4钛合金基体;Ni60+50%WC复合涂层和d22粉末打底+(Ni60+50%WC)复合涂层的抗剪切结合强度分别为188....     

Effect of micro-blasting on the tribological properties of TiN/MT-TiCN/Al2O3/TiCNO coatings deposited by CVD

The effect of micro-blasting on the tribological properties of TiN/MT-TiCN/Al₂O₃/TiCNO coatings was studied. The multilayer coatings were deposited on cemented carbides by chemical vapor deposition. The microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nano-mechanical testing system, scratch tester and reciprocating tribometer. The results show that micro-blasting significantly reduces the surface roughness and converts the residual tensile stress of Ti(C,N,O) top-layer and Al₂O₃ layer into compressive stress. Affected by the residual compressive stress, the hardness and adhesion strength are increased. More importantly, the friction coefficient is decreased attributed to the decreased surface roughness and improved hardness. Also, the wear resistance of micro-blasted TiN/MT-TiCN/Al₂O₃/TiCNO is superior due to higher hardness of Ti(C,N,O) top-layer, Al₂O₃ layer and adhesion strength of coatings. Especially for the total sliding time of 2 h, the wear volume and wear rate of micro-blasted coatings are 69.4% of as-deposited coatings, because micro-blasting helps to increase the adhesion strength and micro-cracking resistance, which play important roles in the improvement of wear resistance. Micro-blasting has a positive effect on the friction and wear properties of TiN/MT-TiCN/Al₂O₃/TiCNO multilayer coatings since the adverse impact of top-layer thinning is offset.     

Preparation, microstructure and properties of molybdenum alloys reinforced by in-situ Al2O3 particles

The conventional molybdenum alloys, lacking of hard particles enhancing wear property, have relative poor wear resistance though they are widely used in wear parts. To resolve the above question, Mo alloys reinforced by in-situ Al₂O₃ particles are developed using powder metallurgy method. The in-situ α-Al₂O₃ particles in molybdenum matrix are obtained by the decomposition of aluminum nitrate after liquid-solid incorporation of MoO₂ and Al(NO₃)₃ aqueous solution. The α-Al₂O₃ particles well bonded with molybdenum distribute evenly in matrix of Mo alloys, which refine grains of alloys and increase hardness of alloys. The absolute density of alloy increases firstly and then decreases with the increase of Al₂O₃ content, while the relative density rises continuously. The friction coefficient of alloy, fluctuating around 0.5, is slightly influenced by Al₂O₃. However, the wear resistance of alloy obviously affected by the Al₂O₃ particles rises remarkably with the increasing of Al₂O₃ content. The Al₂O₃ particles can efficiently resist micro-cutting to protect molybdenum matrix, and therefore enhances the wear resistance of Mo alloy.     

A Study on the Deposition of Al2O3 Coatings on Polymer Substrates by a Plasma Spray/Micro-Arc Oxidation Two-Step Method

To increase the wear resistance of polymer matrix composites, alumina coatings were deposited on polymer substrates by a two-step method combining plasma spraying and micro-arc oxidation. The microstructures and phase compositions of the processed coatings were investigated for different treatment times. Uniformly distributed pores were found in addition to the presence of various coral-like structures and floccules on the surface of the coatings. The presence of α-Al₂O₃ and γ-Al₂O₃ phases was identified by XRD. The distribution of alumina was analyzed by EDS and is discussed. The maximum bond strength of the coatings was found to be 5.89 MPa. There was little thermal damage in the polymer substrates after the coatings were produced.     

Mechanical and Thermal Transport Properties of Suspension Thermal-Sprayed Alumina-Zirconia Composite Coatings

Micro-laminates and nanocomposites of Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ can potentially exhibit higher hardness and fracture toughness and lower thermal conductivity than alumina or zirconia alone. The potential of these improvements for abrasion protection and thermal barrier coatings is generating considerable interest in developing techniques for producing these functional coatings with optimized microstructures. Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ composite coatings were deposited by suspension thermal spraying (APS and HVOF) of submicron feedstock powders. The liquid carrier employed in this approach allows for controlled injection of much finer particles than in conventional thermal spraying, leading to unique and novel fine-scaled microstructures. The suspensions were injected internally using a Mettech Axial III plasma torch and a Sulzer-Metco DJ-2700 HVOF gun. The different spray processes induced a variety of structures ranging from finely segregated ceramic laminates to highly alloyed amorphous composites. Mechanisms leading to these structures are related to the feedstock size and in-flight particle states upon their impact. Mechanical and thermal transport properties of the coatings were compared. Compositionally segregated crystalline coatings, obtained by plasma spraying, showed the highest hardness of up to 1125 VHN_{3 N}, as well as the highest abrasion wear resistance (following ASTM G65). The HVOF coating exhibited the highest erosion wear resistance (following ASTM G75), which was related to the toughening effect of small dispersed zirconia particles in the alumina-zirconia-alloyed matrix. This microstructure also exhibited the lowest thermal diffusivity, which is explained by the amorphous phase content and limited particle bonding, generating local thermal resistances within the structure.     

Effect of Surface Roughness and Structure Features on Tribological Properties of Electrodeposited Nanocrystalline Ni and Ni/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Coatings

Metal matrix composite coatings obtained by electrodeposition are one of the ways of improving the surfaces of materials to enhance their durability and properties required in different applications. This paper presents an analysis of the surface topography, microstructure and properties (residual stresses, microhardness, wear resistance) of Ni/Al₂O₃ nanocomposite coatings electrodeposited on steel substrates from modified Watt’s-type baths containing various concentrations of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles and a saccharin additive. The residual stresses measured in the Ni/Al₂O₃ coatings decreased with an increasing amount of the co-deposited ceramics. It was established that the addition of Al₂O₃ powder significantly improved the coatings’ microhardness. The wear mechanism changed from adhesive-abrasive to abrasive with a rising amount of Al₂O₃ particles and coating microhardness. Nanocomposite coatings also exhibited a lower coefficient of friction than that of a pure Ni-electrodeposited coating. The friction was found to depend on the surface roughness, and the smoother surfaces gave lower friction coefficients.