Journal of Surface Engineered Materials and Advanced Technology
Vol.2 No.3A(2012), Article ID:21435,6 pages DOI:10.4236/jsemat.2012.223035

Microstructure, Adhesion and Wear of Plasma Sprayed AlSi-SiC Composite Coatings

Satish Tailor1*, V. K. Sharma1, R. M. Mohanty2, P. R. Soni1

1Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, India; 2Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR-HQS, New Delhi, India.

Email: *taylor.nitj@scientist.com, psmt@rediffmail.com, mohantyrm@yahoo.com

Received May 3rd, 2012; revised June 7th, 2012; accepted June 15th, 2012

Keywords: AlSi-SiC; Attrition Milling; Plasma Spray Coating; Adhesion Strength; Wear Resistance

ABSTRACT

Al-12.5wt%Si alloy powder with 15 wt% SiCp was mechanically alloyed (MA) using attrition mill in purified nitrogen atmosphere. The MA processed powder was found to have nano grain size and uniform distribution of SiCp in the AlSi matrix. This MA processed powder was used for atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) for varying distances and currents densities. The coatings obtained were studied by image analyzer, SEM and XRD. Microhardness and wear rate of the coatings were evaluated using Vickers indenter and pin on disk type tribometer, respectively. Adhesion strength of the coatings was measured by interfacial indentation test. The results showed that these coatings have uniform distribution of reinforced SiC particles in the nano crystalline matrix, low porosity (1% - 2%), low wear rates and improved adhesion strength. It was also observed that by increasing current density of APS, the adhesive strength increased.

1. Introduction

Plasma spray technology is being widely used for the development of protective coatings to prevent degradation of critical components working under severe conditions. Aatmospheric plasma spraying (APS) is one of these processes based on the creation of a plasma jet to melt a feed stock powder [1]. At the surface of the substrate, particles flatten and solidify rapidly forming a stack of lamellae. Micro-cracks also appear in the microstructure as a consequence of stress accommodation due to the high temperature, rapid solidification and a large difference in thermal expansion coefficients of the substrate and coating. This is especially the case for ceramic coatings deposited on metallic substrates. Plasma sprayed ceramic reinforced coatings, for their higher strength-toweight ratio and superior wear-resistant properties, are preferred in most tribological applications. The suitability of a ceramic reinforced coating on metal substrates depends on 1) the adherence strength at coating-substrate interface; and 2) stability at operating conditions. These coatings provide a dense and hard surface which is resistant to abrasion, corrosion, cavitation, oxidation and erosion.

Plasma sprayed “aluminum based metal matrix” composite coatings are regularly used for wear resistance, thermal barrier applications, aerospace, defence and selected automotive applications such as high performance racing applications [2]. The most commonly used materials as reinforcement are SiC, Al2O3 or B4C into the aluminum matrix. These materials are used to improve elastic modulus, enhanced heat and wear resistance [3,4].

For dispersoid distribution, the technique of mechaniccal alloying (MA) is widely used [5]. For mechanical alloying attrition mill, which is effectively a high energy ball mill containing internally agitated media [6], is commonly used. The most important characteristic of the attrition mill is that the power input is used directly for agitating the media to achieve alloying/grinding and is not used for rotating or vibrating heavy tank in addition to the media as is the case of vibratory or planetary mill [7]. For each material, there is a minimum grain size that is obtainable by milling. This size is related to the intrinsic properties of the material, such as crystal structure. The minimum grain size seems in a first approximation to be inversely proportional to the melting temperature or bulk modulus [8].

In the present work, mechanical alloyed (MA) AlSi-SiC coatings are deposited on mild steel (MS), stainless steel (SS) and weathering steel (WS; which is also known as Cor-Ten steel) substrates using the APS technique. Plasma sprayed coatings properties like microstructure, crystallite size, deposition efficiency, porosity and hardness were studied. Adhesion strength and wear properties of AlSi-SiC coatings were evaluated. An attempt was made to optimize the plasma spray conditions, based on the current density and spray distance to get better coating properties.

2. Experiment

Al-12.5wt%Si alloy aluminium alloy powder (Trade name ALAB supplied by The Metal Powder Company Limited Thirumangalam, India; with a particle size of < 80 µm and the Silicon carbide powder with an average particle size of 40 µm were used in these investigations. The chemical composition of ALAB alloy is shown in Table 1.

As-received AlSi alloy was mechanically alloyed with 15 wt% SiCp in a high energy attrition mill for 8 hr with a rotation speed of 350 rpm. The milling media was hardened steel balls of diameter 12.2 mm. The weight ratio of milling media to powder was 10:1. Acrawax C (1 wt%) was used as a process control agent. Milling was carried out in purified nitrogen atmosphere to prevent oxidation during milling. The MA processed powder was then degassed at temperature of 200˚C under a vacuum of 102 torr.

2.1. Plasma Spraying Conditions

Atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) was carried out using plasma equipment Sulzer Metco Inc. New York, with 3 M type gun under conditions as presented in Table 2. Coating were applied on three substrates; mild steel (MS), stainless steel (SS) and weathering steel (WS). Prior to spraying, the samples were sand blasted by SiC particles. The plasma coatings were developed on the substrates with different spray distances and current intensities as in (Tables 3 and 4).

Table 1. Chemical composition of ALAB powder.

Table 2. Plasma spray parameters.

Table 3. Spraying at fixed current.

Table 4. Spraying at fixed distance.

2.2. Characterization

Morphology of as received and milled powder particles as-sprayed coatings were investigated using a TESCAN scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDAX). The characterization of phases present in the powders and coatings were carried out by Philips X-PERT PRO X-ray diffraction system with Cu Kα radiation (kα = 0.1542 nm).

Vickers indenter was used to measure the microhardness of coatings at a load of 500 gm. Interfacial indentation tests were carried out on coatings using Vickers hardness tester under loads of 0.98, 1.96, 2.94 and 3.92 N for evaluation of adhesion strength.

The wear behavior of the coatings was carried out under dry-sliding using pin on disk type tribometer for 50 N applied load. The wear tests were carried out at sliding velocity of 1 m/s and sliding distance of 2 km.

3. Results and Discussion

Morphology of the as-received powders can be observed in Figure 1. Figure 2(a) shows morphology and particle size distribution in mechanically alloyed AlSi-SiCp composite powder. It can be observed that sub-angular shape of the AlSi powder changes to a sub-rounded and irregular form. The SiC particles are embedded in the matrix powder and uniformly distributed in the finer matrix due to mechanical alloying (Figure 2(b)).

After 8 h of milling, the mean powder particle size was about 37.13 µm. The milling process was interrupted at this stage because longer milling time led to finer powder particles that were unsuitable for spraying. A fine particle size causes several problems in APS, including nonuniformity in the powder feed rate and a decrease in powder

Figure 1. Scanning electron micrograph of as-received powder particles (a) SiC; (b) AlSi.

flux, leading to increased porosity and poor adherence [9]. The deposition efficiency of powder on substrates at spray distance (D) of 100 mm was highest than other spray distance. So, 100 mm was selected as the optimum spray distances (Table 5). Also by increasing current density of APS, temperature of plasma flame increases, resulting in decrease in porosity content of the coating, due to complete melting of powder particles. It was observed that this composite powder milled for 8h gives better coating deposition on substrates for spraying distance (D) of 100 mm and current (I) of 500 A (Table 6).

Microstructure of AlSi-15wt%SiCp composite coatings on different substrates are shown in Figures 3 and 4, respectively. SiC particles exhibit a uniform distribution with about 40%, 40% - 45% and 45% - 50% in the coated surface, on MS, SS and WS respectively, and porosity in the range of 1% - 2%. Microstructure of the side

(a)(b)

Figure 2. The powder morphologies: (a) Particle size distribution in MA AlSi-SiC powder; (b) Distribution of SiC particles.

Table 5. Substrate weight after plasma spray; at constant current 500 A.

Table 6. Substrate weight after plasma spray; at constant spay distance 100 mm.

(a)(b)(c)

Figure 3. Microstructure of coating on different substrates; (a) MS; (b) SS; and (c) WS (top view).

view of the coatings (Figure 4) show that the interface is free of cracks and the particles are homogeneously dispersed and well integrated inside the matrix.

XRD patterns of APS coatings at optimum conditions have been shown in Figure 5. These XRD patterns show no oxide peaks as well as no new phases. In the plasma

(a)(b)(c)

Figure 4. Microstructure of coating on different substrates; (a) MS; (b) SS; and (c) WS (side view).

spray coatings, melted particle solidifies with a very high rate (approaching 107 K/s) [10], probably due to that high temperature diffusion and the reaction between the phases present could not take place, and consequently no new phase could form. It should be noted that by increasing spray distance the diffusion time increases, while by increasing current density of APS the plasma temperature increases.

The microhardness and the crystallite size as calculated with the help of XRD patterns by applying Scherrer’s relationship [11], are given in the Table 7. It is observed that microhardness in case of WS is higher than the coatings on MS and SS substrates. This can be attributed to higher fraction (45% - 50%) of SiC particles in the coating and the finer grain size of 15 nm. Crystallite size in the coatings in all three substrate cases is of the order of nanometers. This nano-grain size, high dislocation density due to MA and dispersed oxides and carbides may be the possible sources for high hardness in the coatings [7].

Interfacial indentation tests showed that at a load of 3.92 N, cracks were generated at the interface in B1, B2 and B3 coating conditions (Table 4), while no crack occurred in B4 condition due to the higher spray temperature and higher coating density which lead to higher adhesive strength. Micro-alloying between MA AlSi-SiC powder and substrate at the interface during the spraying also may be the possible cause for the higher adhesion strength.

Figure 6 shows the wear rate of the coatings on different substrates. The composite coatings have significantly improved wear resistance. Coating on WS substrate

Figure 5. X-ray diffraction patterns of as sprayed coatings at optimum spray conditions.

Table 7. Microhardness and crystallite size in the coatings.

Figure 6. Histogram of the wear rates of the composite coatings at the load of 50 N.

has superior wear resistance due to its higher hardness. Hardness and wear resistance increases with increasing SiC content, although the relationship is not linear. Venkatraman et al. [12] found that Archard’s law is maintained for the Al-SiC system under dry sliding wear conditions. At low SiC contents (SiC vol% < 10) the wear rate decreases much faster than the corresponding increase in hardness. The reverse trend was reported by the same authors for higher SiC content where the increase of SiC content from 30 to 40 vol% increased the hardness by 20% but the wear rates remained the same. Hwang et al. [13] also further observed that the increase in SiC contents increases the wear resistance.

4. Conclusions

MA processed AlSi-15wt%SiCp powder gives good quality atmospheric plasma sprayed coating on mild steel (MS), stainless steel (SS) and weathering steel (WS) substrates. These coatings were found to have homogeneous distribution of SiC in the matrix of AlSi alloy and the porosity level in the range of 1% - 2%. Crystallite size in the coatings was found be in order of nano size. Due to these factors coating hardness was high & wear rate low.

Adhesion crake initation in all three substrate cases was found to be at the load of 3.92 N or above. Conclusively, it can be said that APS coatings performance is governed by multiple factors like compositions of the coating and the substrate, processing route of the feedstock powder, spraying parameters like current density and spraying distance. For the best results all these parameters should be optimized.

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NOTES

*Corresponding author.