Pulsed plasma deposition of Fe-C-Cr-W coating on high-Cr-cast iron: Effect of layered morphology and heat treatment on the microstructure and hardness

Pulsed plasma treatment was applied for surface modification and laminated coating deposition on 14.5 wt%-Cr cast iron. The scopes of the research were: (a) to obtain a microstructure gradient, (b) to study the relationship between cathode material and coating layer microstructure/hardness, and (c) to improve coating quality by applying post-deposition heat treatment. An electrothermal axial plasma accelerator with a gas-dynamic working regime was used as plasma source (4.0 kV, 10 kA). The layered structure was obtained by alternation of the cathode material (T1 - 18 wt% W high speed steel and 28 wt% Cr-cast iron). It was found that pulsed plasma treatment led to substrate sub-surface modification by the formation of an 11–18 μm thick remelted layer with very fine carbide particles that provided a smooth transition from the substrate into the coating (80–120 μm thick). The as-deposited coating of 500–655 HV0.05 hardness consisted of “martensite/austenite” layers which alternated with heat-affected layers (layers the microstructure of which was affected by the subsequent plasma pulses). Post-deposition heat treatment (isothermal holding at 950 °C for 2 h followed by oil quenching) resulted in precipitation of carbides M7C3, M3C2, M3C (in Cr-rich layers) and M6C, M2C (in W-rich layers). These carbides were found to be Cr/W depleted in favor of Fe. The carbide precipitation led to a substantial increase in the coating hardness to 1240–1445 HV0.05. The volume fraction of carbides in the coating notably increased relatively to the electrode materials

Microstructural evaluation of thermal-sprayed CoCrFeMnNi0.8V high-entropy alloy coatings

The aim of this work is to improve the understanding of the effect of the cooling rate on the microstructure of high-entropy alloys, with a focus on high-entropy alloy coatings, by using a combined computational and experimental validation approach. CoCrFeMnNi0.8V coatings were deposited on a steel substrate with high velocity oxy-air-fuel spray with the employment of three different deposition temperatures. The microstructures of the coatings were studied and compared with the microstructure of the equivalent bulk high-entropy alloy fabricated by suction casting and powder fabricated by gas atomization. According to the results, the powder and the coatings deposited by low and medium temperatures consisted of a BCC microstructure. On the other hand, the microstructure of the coating deposited by high temperature was more complex, consisting of different phases, including BCC, FCC and oxides. The phase constitution of the bulk high-entropy alloy included an FCC phase and sigma. This variation in the microstructural outcome was assessed in terms of solidification rate, and the results were compared with Thermo-Calc modelling. The microstructure can be tuned by the employment of rapid solidification techniques such as gas atomization, as well as subsequent processing such as high velocity oxy-air-fuel spray with the use of different spray parameters, leading to a variety of microstructural outcomes. This approach is of high interest for the field of high-entropy alloy coatings

Characterisation of AI MMCs manufactured by a flux casting process

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Thixoforming of A356/SiC and A356/TiB2 Nanocomposites Fabricated by a Combination of Green Compact Nanoparticle Incorporation and Ultrasonic Treatment of the Melted Compact

Thixoforming is a type of semi-solid processing which is based on forming metals in the semi-solid state rather than fully liquid or solid state. There have been no reports of the thixoforming of nanocomposites in the literature. The incorporation of ceramic nanoparticles into liquid metals is a challenging task for the fabrication of metal matrix nanocomposites due to their large surface-to-volume ratio and poor wettability. Previous research work by a number of workers has highlighted the challenges with the incorporation of nanoparticles into liquid aluminum alloy. In the present study, SiC and TiB2 nanoparticles with an average diameter between 20 and 30 nm were firstly incorporated into green compacts by a powder forming route, and then the compacts were melted and treated ultrasonically. The microstructural studies reveal that the engulfment and relatively effective distribution of the nanoparticles into the melt were achieved. The hardness was considerably improved with only 0.8 wt pct addition of the nanoparticles. The nanocomposites were successfully thixoformed at a solid fraction between 0.65 and 0.70. The microstructures, hardness, and tensile mechanical properties of the thixoformed nanocomposites were investigated and compared with those of the as-received A356 and thixoformed A356 alloys. The tensile properties of the thixoformed nanocomposites were significantly enhanced compared to thixoformed A356 alloy without reinforcement, indicating the strengthening effects of the nanoparticles