Electroless Ni–P Plating on Mullite Powders and Study of the Mechanical Properties of Its Plasma-Sprayed Coating

To effectively improve the properties of a mullite coating and its interfacial bonding with the substrate, a Ni–P layer is deposited on the surface of mullite powders by electroless plating. The original mullite powders and coated mullite powders are then deposited onto stainless-steel substrates by plasma spraying. The growth mechanism of the Ni–P layer during the plating, the microstructures of the coated powders and mullite coating and the properties of the mullite coatings are characterized and analyzed. The results indicate that the Ni–P layer on the surface of the mullite powder has cell structures with a dense uniform distribution and grows in layers on the surface of the mullite powder. The crystallization behavior of Ni-P amorphous layer is induced by heat treatment. Compared to the original mullite coating, the coating prepared by the coated mullite powders has better manufacturability, stronger adhesion to the substrate, lower porosity (7.40%, 65% of that of the original coating), higher hardness (500.1 HV, 1.2 times that of the original coating), and better thermal cycle resistance (two times that of the original coating). The method of preparation of high-temperature thermal barrier coatings with coated mullite powders has a high application value.

Oxidation Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of ZrB2–35MoSi2–10Al Composite Coating

The problem of creating and implementing high-temperature coatings for the protection of carbon–carbon (C/C) composites remains relevant due to the extremely low or insufficient heat resistance of C/C composites in an oxygen-containing environment. In the present work, detonation spraying was used for preparing new ZrB2–35MoSi2–10Al coatings on the surface of C/C composites without a sublayer. As a stabilizer of high-temperature modification of zirconia, and to increase the wettability of the surface of C/C composites, 5 wt.% Y2O3 and 10 wt.% Al were added to the initial powder mixture, respectively. The structure of the as-sprayed coating presents many lamellae piled up one upon another, and is composed of hexagonal ZrB2 (h- ZrB2), tetragonal MoSi2 (t-MoSi2), monoclinic ZrO2 (m-ZrO2), tetragonal ZrO2 (t-ZrO2), monoclinic SiO2 (m-SiO2), and cubic Al phases. The oxidation behavior and microstructural evolution of the ZrB2–35MoSi2–10Al composite coating were characterized from RT to 1400 °C in open air. During oxidation at 1400 °C, a continuous layer of silicate glass was formed on the coating surface. This layer contained cubic ZrO2 (c-ZrO2), m-ZrO2, and small amounts of mullite and zircon. The results indicated that a new ZrB2–35MoSi2–10Al composite coating could be used on the surface of C/C composites as a protective layer from oxidation at elevated temperatures.

Experimental Investigation and Numerical Simulation for Corrosion Rate of Amorphous/Nano-Crystalline Coating Influenced by Temperatures

A high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) system was employed to prepare a Fe49.7Cr18Mn1.9Mo7.4W1.6B15.2C3.8Si2.4 amorphous coating on mild steel. The electrochemical behavior of the resultant coatings, namely as-sprayed coating and vacuum heat-treated coating (at 650 °C and 800 °C), were investigated in a 3.5% NaCl solution at variable temperatures using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization, optical microscopy (OM), and XRD diffraction. Moreover, COMSOL Multiphysics version 5.5 software were employed for predicting the galvanic corrosion of amorphous material immersed in an aqueous NaCl solution, using the software finite element kit. The experiments demonstrated that the coatings’ pitting resistance was significantly affected by temperature. The results also showed that temperature affected the pitting corrosion rate and changed the shape of the pits. However, the changes were not as extreme as those observed in stainless steel. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the as-sprayed coating and the vacuum-heat-treated coating at 650 °C. At low NaCl concentrations at and temperatures below the critical pitting temperature, the resulting pits were significantly small with a hemisphere-like. By contrast, at a higher NaCl concentration at 70 °C, particularly in the case of heating at 650 °C, the pits appearing on the Fe-based amorphous coating were vast and sometimes featured a lacy cover.

Increase of wear resistance of crankshafts of timber transport machines

The paper considers the technological process of restoration of crankshaft necks by plasma spraying with wear-resistant thermoreacting powder PG-NA80. Wear of the crankshaft necks during operation requires repair, restoration or replacement of this part. As a result of the literature analysis, plasma spraying was found to be the most optimal and relatively inexpensive method of crankshaft recovery. The purpose of our work is to investigate the wear resistance properties of the sprayed coating and the search for op-optimal parameters of its application process. The sprayed coatings were studied according to two parameters: joint strength and wear resistance. For the study, experimental equipment of the plasma spraying laboratory of the department was used. As a result of the experimental study, separate regression equations of the effect of the main factors of plasma spraying on relative wear resistance were obtained. A comparison of physical, mechanical and tribotechnical characteristics showed an improvement in the properties of coatings by 8-12% obtained from thermoreacting powder in comparison with traditional PGSR-4 and PN55T45. Analysis of the obtained research results showed that this technological process can be effectively used to restore worn out crankshafts of forestry vehicles.

RESEARCH ON TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF Cr3C2-25NiCr-COATED BRAKE DISC

This research presents the results of a comparative study to determine the friction and wear behavior of the high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF)-sprayed Cr3C2-25NiCr-coated brake disc. The friction and wear behavior of Cr3C2-25NiCr-coated brake disc (CD) and the sliding against the commercial brake pad were examined on a laboratory-scale disc-pad dynamometer and the findings were compared with those of reference brake disc (UCD). The coating was deposited by means of the HVOF process on a grey cast iron (GCI) substrate. Braking tests were performed according to the SAE-J2430 test standard. The as-sprayed coating was characterized for their microstructure and phase constitution by SEM/EDS and XRD. The results reveal that the coefficient of friction (COF) of CD and UCD varies between 0.42–0.57 and 0.44–0.62, respectively. The Cr3C2-25NiCr-coated brake disc was found to have exhibited a comparable COF and lower wear loss to the reference brake disc. The addition of a ceramic phase to the brake disc coating played an important role in reducing the COF to an acceptable range and improving the sliding wear resistance of the brake pair.