Studies on plasma sprayed bi-layered ceramic coating on bio-medical Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy

Biomedical Ti alloys are prone to undergo degradation due to the combined effect of wear and corrosion. To overcome these problems, surface modification techniques are being used. In this paper, the biomedical Ti alloy Ti-13Nb-13Zr was plasma sprayed with nanostructured Al₂O₃-13 wt%TiO₂, yttria stabilized zirconia powders and bilayer containing alternate layers of the two coatings to improve the corrosion resistance and microhardness of the substrate. The plasma sprayed coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The microstructure, microhardness and surface roughness of the coatings were investigated. The corrosion resistance of the coatings was studied in simulated body conditions. The results show improved corrosion resistance for the bilayered coating compared to the individual plasma sprayed coatings on biomedical Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy substrate.     

Phase composition,structural, and plasma erosion properties of ceramic coating prepared by suspension plasma spraying

Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG), Y₂O₃, and Al₂O₃ ceramic coatings were manufactured to investigate the plasma erosion properties. The X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that YAG coating was synthesized successfully by Y₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ mixture suspension using the plasma spraying method. Meanwhile, metastable phases were found in Y₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ coatings due to the quenching in cooling process of melted droplets. The coating surface morphology and microstructure of cross sections were characterized by SEM. The results reveal that coatings are composed by ultrafine splats and exhibit dense lamellar structure. The plasma erosion properties were evaluated at different etching test power under Ar/CF₄/O₂ plasma gas. The experimental results clarify that both of YAG and Y₂O₃ coatings show the better plasma erosion resistance than Al₂O₃ coatings. The formation of fluorination layer surface prevents the coatings from further erosion with plasma gas. Moreover, the etching rate of coatings depended on the fluorination and removing rate of fluoride layer.     

Plasma resistance of quartz with a glass coating layer by aerosol deposition

ABSTRACT

To improve the plasma resistance behaviour, glass frits of SiO₂–Al₂O₃–Y₂O₃ with various powder sizes were coated onto quartz substrates by the aerosol deposition (AD) method. The thickness and microstructure of the coating layers were observed using a surface profiler and scanning electron microscopy. Plasma resistance was measured via the quartz substrate, after exposure to an inductively coupled plasma etcher. The coating layers were densely formed on the quartz substrates without additional heat treatment, and the layer thickness changed for the glass frit size distribution and AD process conditions. The SiO₂–Al₂O₃–Y₂O₃ glass coating layer showed a higher plasma resistance than quartz. Furthermore, the AD coating layer was evenly etched after plasma exposure. This study improves the lifetime of plasma chamber components in the semiconductor industry.     

Effect of Fe3+ and F− on black micro-arc oxidation ceramic coating of magnesium alloy

This study focuses on a black micro-arc oxidation ceramic coating prepared on the surface of magnesium alloy by the technology of micro-arc oxidation in the electrolyte containing F^– and Fe³⁺ as well as its mechanism of F^– and Fe³⁺. It needs coatings to experience detail analyses on their thickness, roughness, corrosion resistance, thermal control property, valence states of elements, phase composition, and morphology of coatings, respectively, through coating thickness gauge, roughness tester, electrochemical workstation, AE radiometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results showed that with the help of F^– in electrolyte, Fe³⁺ can be complexed and MgF₂ can be obtained in the coating, which reduces the pores on the surface of micro-arc oxidation coating. In addition, Fe³⁺ in the electrolyte contributes to the preparation of Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ in the coating, which can blacken the surface of the coating. Both F^– and Fe³⁺ benefit to improve the corrosion resistance and thermal control performance of micro-arc oxidation coating. There is higher iron oxide in the outer layer but higher fluoride in the inner layer of the coating.     

Preparation of Pd-doped Y3Al5O12 thermal barrier coatings using cathode plasma electrolytic deposition

Here, noble metal Pd-doped Y₃Al₅O₁₂ thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) were efficaciously prepared by means of cathode plasma electrolytic deposition (CPED). The formation mechanism of the Y₃Al₅O₁₂ coatings and the difference in coating performance before and after doping with Pd were analyzed. The results indicated that the preparation of the Y₃Al₅O₁₂ TBCs by using the CPED method could be divided into three stages, and the phase compositions of the coatings obtained with different deposition times were different. A single-phase Y₃Al₅O₁₂ TBCs with a 115-μm thickness was obtained after a deposition time of 20 min. After Pd doping, the average surface roughness of the TBCs decreased from 27.72 to 13.84 μm, and the high-temperature oxidation resistance and thermal shock resistance at 1050 °C improved significantly.     

Low pressure plasma-sprayed Al2O3 and Al2O3/SiC nanocomposite coatings from different feedstock powders

This paper describes a preliminary investigation of a nanocomposite ceramic coating system, based on Al₂O₃/SiC. Feedstock Al₂O₃/SiC nanocomposite powder has been manufactured using sol-gel and conventional freeze-drying processing techniques and then low pressure plasma sprayed onto stainless steel substrates using a CoNiCrAlY bond coat. Coatings of a commercial Al₂O₃ powder have also been manufactured as a reference for phase transformations and microstructure. The different powder morphology and size distribution resulting from the different processing techniques and their effect on coating microstructure has been investigated. Phase analysis of the feedstock powders and of the as-sprayed coatings by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) showed that the nano-scale SiC particles were retained in the composite coatings and that equilibrium α-Al₂O₃ transformed to metastable γ- and δ-Al₂O₃ phases during plasma spraying. Other minority phases in the sol-gel Al₂O₃/SiC nanocomposite powder such as silica and aluminosilicate were removed by the plasma-spraying process. Microstructure characterisation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the as-sprayed surface, polished cross-section, and fracture surface of the coatings showed evidence of partially molten and unmolten particles incorporated into the predominantly lamella microstructure of the coating. The extent of feedstock particle melting and consequently the character of the coating microstructure were different in each coating because of the effects of particle morphology and particle size distribution on particle melting in the plasma.     

Corrosive wear behavior of HVOF-sprayed micro-nano-structured Cr3C2–NiCr cermet coatings under aqueous media

A novel micro-nano-structured Cr₃C₂–NiCr cermet coating was prepared on 316L stainless steel by high-velocity oxygen fuel spraying technology (HVOF). Cermet coatings with different contents of micro-and nano-sized Cr₃C₂ particles as the hard phase and a NiCr alloy matrix as the bonding phase were prepared and characterized in terms of porosity, microhardness, and corrosive wear resistance in a 3.5% NaCl solution and artificial seawater. Compared to nanostructured coatings, micro-nano-structured coatings avoid decarburization and reduce nanoparticle agglomeration during the spray process, and mechanical and electrochemical properties were improved in comparison with those of conventional coatings. The micro-nano-structured Cr₃C₂–NiCr coating rendered low porosity (≤0.34%) and high microhardness (≥1105.0HV_0.3). The coating comprising 50% nano-sized Cr₃C₂ grains exhibited the best corrosive wear resistance owing to its densest microstructure and highest microhardness. Furthermore, compared to static corrosion, the dynamic corrosion of the coatings led to more severe mechanical wear, because corrosion destroyed the coating surface and ions promoted corrosion to invade coatings through the pores during corrosion wear.     

Evaluation of hot corrosion behavior of CSZ,CSZ/micro Al2O3 and CSZ/nano Al2O3 plasma sprayed thermal barrier coatings

Hot corrosion is one of the main destructive factors in thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) which come as a result of molten salt effect on the coating–gas interface. Hot corrosion behavior of three types of plasma sprayed TBCs was evaluated: usual CSZ, layer composite of CSZ/Micro Al₂O₃ and layer composite of CSZ/Nano Al₂O₃ in which Al₂O₃ was as a topcoat on CSZ layer. Hot corrosion studies of plasma sprayed thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) were conducted in 45 wt% Na₂SO₄+55 wt% V₂O₅ molten salt at 1050 °C for 40 h. The graded microstructure of the coatings was examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) before and after hot corrosion test. The results showed that no damage and hot corrosion products was found on the surface of CSZ/Nano Al₂O₃ coating and monoclinic ZrO₂ fraction was lower in CSZ/Micro Al₂O₃ coating in comparison with usual CSZ. reaction of molten salts with stabilizers of zirconia (Y₂O₃ and CeO₂) that accompanied by formation of monoclinic zirconia, irregular shape crystals of YVO₄, CeVO₄ and semi-cubic crystals of CeO₂ as hot corrosion products, caused the degradation of CSZ coating in usual CSZ and CSZ/Micro Al₂O₃ coating.     

Composite Ni/Al2O3 coatings and their corrosion resistance

Composite coatings Ni/Al₂O₃ were electrochemically deposited from a Watts bath. Al₂O₃ powder with particle diameter below 1 μm was codeposited with the metal. The obtained Ni/Al₂O₃ coatings contained 5-6% by weight of corundum. The structure of the coatings was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It has been found that the codeposition of Al₂O₃ particles with nickel disturbs the nickel coating's regular surface structure, increasing its microcrystallinity and surface roughness. DC and AC electrochemical tests were carried out on such coatings in a 0.5 M solution of Na₂SO₄ in order to evaluate their corrosion resistance. The potentiodynamic tests showed that the corrosion resistance of composite coating Ni/Al₂O₃ is better than that of the standard nickel coating. After 14 days of exposure the nickel coating corrodes three times faster than the Ni/Al₂O₃ coating. The electrochemical behaviour of the coatings in the corrosive solution was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). An equivalent circuit diagram consisting of two RC electric circuits: one for electrode, nickel corrosion processes and the other for processes causing coating surface blockage, were adopted for the analysis of the impedance spectra. The changes in the charge transfer resistance determined from the impedance measurements are comparable with the changes in corrosion resistance determined from potentiodynamic measurements.     

Corrosion resistance of Al2O3-Y2O3-SiC coating on depleted uranium prepared by cathode plasma electrolytic deposition

Al₂O₃-Y₂O₃-SiC composite coatings were prepared on depleted uranium by cathode plasma electrolytic deposition in Al(NO₃)₃, Y(NO₃)₃, SiC nanoparticles and anhydrous ethyl alcohol mixture. The resulting coating consisted of an inner barrier layer and an outer porous layer. The SiC nanoparticles were incorporated into the composite coating and decreased the coating porosity by filling the pores. The potentiodynamic polarization test and neutral salt spray test revealed that the corrosion resistance of depleted uranium was enhanced by the composite coating. Moreover, with increasing the content of SiC nanoparticles in the coating, the coating corrosion resistance was improved gradually.     

Microstructure and properties of niobium carbide composite coatings prepared by plasma spraying

Niobium carbide composite coatings were prepared on titanium alloy surface by plasma spraying NbC–Al₂O₃, Nb–SiC and Nb–SiC–Al composite powders, respectively. The phase composition, microstructure and formation mechanism of the three composite coatings were analyzed and their microhardness, toughness and scratch resistance were compared. The phases of the NbC–Al₂O₃ system did not change during the plasma spraying process, and new phases (Nb₂C, NbC and Nb₃Si) were formed in the Nb–SiC and Nb–SiC–Al systems. TEM results of the Nb–SiC composite coating indicate that the new phases nanocrystalline Nb₂C, submicron NbC and nanocrystalline Nb₃Si were formed during the plasma spraying process. Compared with the NbC–Al₂O₃ composite coating, the microstructure of the Nb–SiC and the Nb–SiC–Al composite coatings were uniform, and the porosity were relatively low, and the hardness was higher. The Nb–SiC–Al composite coating was denser than the Nb–SiC composite coating, the lamellar structure was obvious and the number of pores in the coating was the least, which is attributed to the better molten state of the composite powder by the addition of the Al to the Nb–SiC system. The Nb–SiC–Al composite coating had better toughness and scratch resistance.     

Characterization and property of microarc oxidation coatings on open-cell aluminum foams

The ceramic coatings were prepared on open-cell aluminum foams by microarc oxidation (MAO) treatment in an alkaline-silicon electrolyte. The morphology, microstructure, elemental distribution, and phase composition of the MAO coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The corrosion behaviors of the coated and uncoated foams were evaluated by electrochemical polarization measurement. The results show that the MAO coatings cover the surface of open-cell aluminum foams. The coatings were composed of an external porous layer and an internal dense layer. The main phase of the MAO coating phase is γ-Al₂O₃. The coated aluminum foams exhibit more positive corrosion potential and lower corrosion current density compared with the uncoated aluminum foams.     

Passivation effect on the surface characteristics and corrosion properties of yttrium oxide films undergoing SF6 plasma treatment

This study investigates the structures, compositions and fluorocarbon-plasma etching behaviors of yttrium oxyfluoride (YOF) passivation films fabricated on sputter-deposited yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) by high-density SF₆ plasma irradiation. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and nano-beam electron diffraction confirmed a YOF passivation film containing multiple phases of (104) and (006) crystal planes was formed on the fluorinated Y₂O₃ surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed few changes in the chemical compositions and surface roughness of the YOF passivation film after fluorocarbon plasma etching, confirming the chemical stability of the SF₆ plasma-treated Y₂O₃ sample. The etching depth was ～20% lower on the SF₆ plasma-treated Y₂O₃ film than on the commercial Y₂O₃ coating. These results showed that the SF₆ plasma-treated Y₂O₃ films have an excellent erosion resistance properties compared to the commercial Y₂O₃ coatings.     

A comparative investigation on the corrosion degradation of plasma sprayed YSZ and LnMgAl11O19 (Ln = Nd,Sm, Gd) coatings exposed to the molten V2O5 + Na2SO4 salt mixture at 1100 °C

Corrosive attack of the molten 50 wt. % V₂O₅ + 50 wt.% Na₂SO₄ salt mixture has been comparably studied for the APS YSZ and LnMgAl₁₁O₁₉ (LnMA, Ln = Nd, Sm, Gd) thermal barrier coatings upon a 10 h anneal at 1100 °C in air. The YSZ coating suffered from a deepest infiltration of the molten salt along its thickness direction through the open and connected pores as well as inter-lamellae microcracks. A large number of newly formed voids were widely distributed in the YSZ coating due to the corrosion degradation followed by the t, t’ to m-ZrO₂ phase transformation. While, a relative thin corrosion layer mainly consisting of α-Al₂O₃ and LnVO₄ were present for the corroded LnMA coatings. The much reduced number of open pores and connected microcracks together with the rapid chemical reaction between the molten salt and LnMA coatings, especially for the NdMA coating, preventing further infiltration of the molten salt, was beneficial to mitigate further attacks to the inner coating at the expense of sacrificing a thinner top layer. The presences of amorphous phases were thought to further accelerate the corrosion reaction and strengthen such a corrosion protection mode for all the APS LnMA coatings.     

Corrosion behavior of air plasma spraying zirconia-based thermal barrier coatings subject to Calcium–Magnesium–Aluminum-Silicate (CMAS) via burner rig test

Three different kinds of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) — 8YSZ, 38YSZ and a dual-layered (DL) TBCs with pure Y₂O₃ on the top of 8YSZ were produced on nickel-based superalloy substrate by air plasma spraying (APS). The Calcium–Magnesium–Aluminum-Silicate (CMAS) corrosion resistance of these three kinds of coatings were researched via burner rig test at 1350 °C for different durations. The microstructures and phase compositions of the coatings were characterized by SEM, EDS and XRD. With the increase of Y content, TBCs exhibit better performance against CMAS corrosion. The corrosion resistance against CMAS of different TBCs in descending was 8YSZ + Y₂O₃, 38YSZ and 8YSZ, respectively. YSZ diffused from TBCs into the CMAS, and formed Y-lean ZrO₂ in TBCs because of the higher diffusion rate and solubility of Y³⁺ in CMAS than Zr⁴⁺. At the same time, 38YSZ/8YSZ + Y₂O₃ reacts with CAMS to form Ca₄Y₆(SiO₄)₆O/Y_4·67(SiO₄)₃O with dense structure, which can prevent further infiltration of CMAS. The failure of 8YSZ coatings occurred at the interface between the ceramic coating and the thermally grown oxide scale (TGO)/bond coating. During the burner rig test, the Y₂O₃ layer of the DL TBCs peeled off progressively and the 8YSZ layer exposed gradually. DL coatings keep roughly intact and did not meet the failure criteria after 3 h test. 38YSZ coating was partially ablated, the overall thickness of the coating is thinned simultaneously after 2 h. Therefore, 8YSZ + Y₂O₃ dual-layered coating is expected to be a CMAS corrosion-resistant TBC with practical properties.     

Influence of different introduction modes of metal Ag into plasma sprayed Al2O3 coating on tribological properties

Al₂O₃ coating and Al₂O₃/Ag (10%) composite coating were prepared on the surface of GH4169 superalloy by the atmospheric plasma spraying technology. And an in-situ synthesis method was applied to introduce the Ag particles into a part of Al₂O₃ coatings to obtain Al₂O₃/Ag(synthesis) composite coating. Then, the microstructure and mechanical properties of these three Al₂O₃-based coatings were systematically studied in this work. In order to reveal the lubrication characteristics of Ag, their friction tests were carried out at room temperature (RT), 400 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C, respectively. The results showed that both microstructure and mechanical properties of Al₂O₃/Ag(synthesis) composite coating were better than that of Al₂O₃/Ag (10%) composite coating because many pores and cracks produced during the direct spraying. Although the friction coefficients of two kinds of composite coatings were close to that of Al₂O₃ coatings at RT, their wear rates were both greatly decreased due to the introduction of Ag. In addition, the lubricating performance of Ag was not enough to reduce their friction coefficients when friction temperature is lower than 600 °C. However, the friction coefficients of these composite coatings were both reduced to about 0.3 at 800 °C . At this time, the Al₂O₃/Ag(synthesis) composite coating also exhibited a lower wear rate because of its dense microstructure and excellent mechanical properties.     

Optimizing the structure and properties of Y2O3 stabilized zirconia: An atmospheric plasma spray (APS) and solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS) based comparative study

The yttria stabilized zirconia (8%YSZ) is widely used to insulate the metallic components of the engine from high temperature and improve the operating temperature of gas turbine engines. With different processing parameters, 8YSZ coatings are prepared by atmospheric plasma spray (APS) and solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS) techniques and the microstructural features and thermodynamics properties are compared. The electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis indicate that the substitutional point defects (Zr_0.86Y_0.14O_1.93) in the 8YSZ APS coatings are considerably higher than the corresponding SPPS coatings. The replacement of Zr⁴⁺ by Y³⁺ disturbs the charge neutrality of the system which might be compensated by the creation of oxygen vacancy. Both the substitutional point defects and the oxygen vacancies are the sources of phonon scattering, modifying the thermal conductivity of the coating. Pores and cracks are qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed in the microstructure of 8YSZ coatings. Strain tolerant and high thermal cycling life coatings are prepared by SPPS due to the existence of vertical cracks in the microstructure. Comparing the thermal insulation properties of the coatings, the APS coating provided lower thermal conductivities relative to the SPPS coatings which might be due to the high concentration of point defects and low concentration of the mixed oxide phase.     

Influence of the size of spraying powders on the microstructure and corrosion resistance of Fe-based amorphous coating

The Fe-based amorphous coatings with the composition of Fe₄₈Cr₁₅Mo₁₄C₁₅B₆Y₂ were successfully sprayed on mild steel substrate by the high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying process with different feedstock powder sizes (i.e., powder A: −33 + 20 μm, powder B: −45 + 33 μm, powder C: −55 + 45 μm). The coatings were characterized for its morphology, microstructure and thermal stability by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The corrosion behavior of the coatings in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was studied with potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization test. It was found that the particle size of the feedstock powders had a significant influence on microstructure and corrosion resistance of the resultant coatings. The coatings sprayed with the finest powders show the most compact structure; while the coating with the coarser powders exhibits a better corrosion resistance. It is found that the corrosion resistance of the coatings is closely related to the wetting behavior which is affected by the oxygen content and the roughness of coatings. The coatings with hydrophobicity exhibit a better corrosion. The present result demonstrates that the amorphous coatings with hydrophobicity and excellent corrosion resistant are promising for industrial application in marine environment.     

Cathode plasma electrolytic deposition of Al2O3 coatings doped with SiC particles

Semiconductor particles doped Al₂O₃ coatings were prepared by cathode plasma electrolytic deposition in Al(NO₃)₃ electrolyte dispersed with SiC micro- and nano-particles (average particle sizes of 0.5–1.7?µm and 40?nm respectively). The effects of the concentrations and particle sizes of the SiC on the microstructures and tribological performances of the composite coatings were studied. In comparison with the case of dispersing with SiC microparticles, the dispersion of SiC nanoparticles in the coatings was more uniform. When the concentration of SiC nanoparticles was 5?g/L, the surface roughness of the composite coating was reduced by 63%, compared with that of the unmodified coating. Friction results demonstrated that the addition of 5?g/L SiC nanoparticles reduced the friction coefficient from 0.60 to 0.38 and decreased the wear volume under dry friction. The current density and bath voltage were measured to analyze the effects of SiC particles on the deposition process. The results showed that the SiC particles could alter the electrical behavior of the coatings during the deposition process, weaken the bombardment of the plasma, and improve the structures of the coatings.