Fe-B-Cr alloy powder in diameter of 32-53 μm made by argon atomization is low-pressure
plasma sprayed to produce a rapidly solidified iron base composite deposit with finely dispersed
boride particles. The constituents of the as-sprayed deposit formed on a water-cooled substrate are α
phase and amorphous phase that are supersaturated with chromium and boron due to high cooling rate
during solidification of the melt. Heat treatment of deposit at 873K leads to decomposition of the
amorphous phase, resulting in the formation of Fe3B. The deposit heat treated above 1073K is
composed of α phase and (Fe,Cr)2B. The as-sprayed deposit produced on a non-cooled substrate
consists of α phase and (Fe,Cr)2B. The fine precipitates of about 0.1 μm in the as-sprayed deposit
coated on a non-cooled substrate are boride. As deposit temperature increases, the coarsening of the
precipitate particles results in lowered hardness of deposits.