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Laser clad coatings consisting of a Ni-based matrix and tungsten carbide (WC) hard phases are used for heavy wear protection of components in many industries. Matrix composition and WC type can be chosen to give these composites resistance to erosive/abrasive wear, as well as to the impacts of particles and corrosion. Maintaining ductility in the matrix is important, so that it can absorb impact energy and minimize cracking, thus avoiding penetration of corrosive media through cracks and subsequent corrosion in the substrate-cladding interface. Claddings were tested for their impact resistance by means of a single impact with a hard, spherical indenter. The depth of impact craters was measured, and the cracking behavior was analyzed. Corrosion resistance of Ni/WC composites, a HVOF WC/CoCr coating and a hard chrome reference coating were tested by electrochemical corrosion in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution and by exposure for up to 1000 h in a salt spray test. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Zinc (Zn) and zinc–nickel (Zn–Ni) electrodeposition has been widely used in many industries, such as automotive and aerospace, for corrosion protection of steel components owing to their excellent corrosion resistance. Conventional zinc and zinc–nickel electrodeposition is performed in different types of aqueous baths (acid and alkaline). Such electrolytes suffer from certain drawbacks such as hydrogen gas evolution, low coulombic efficiencies, and environmental toxicity. Electrodeposition of Zn and Zn–Ni alloys from ionic liquids has gained significant attention in aerospace and automotive sectors owing to the different environments they provide for electrodeposition. This paper reviews the progress in deposition of zinc and zinc-nickel alloys in non-aqueous systems, especially ionic liquids. In addition, the challenges and technological developments associated with the Zn and Zn–Ni deposition on different substrates and the factors that need to be considered while electroplating at an industrial scale are discussed.

AISI 900 series stainless steels are considered as low-cost alternatives to nickel-based superalloys used for highly corrosive environments. However, in terms of mechanical properties, they have average strength and hardness similar to other austenitic stainless steel grades and this often limits their use. If a 900 series alloy were to be used under tribocorrosive conditions, its surface properties would have to be improved by a wear and corrosion resistant coating. In this study, AISI 904L steel was pack boronized in a solid medium at temperatures of 900, 1000 and 1100 °C for 2, 4 and 6 h with nano-sized boronizing powders. The grown boride layers were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, 2D profilometry, microhardness measurements, ball-on-disk type wear tests and electrochemical corrosion tests. Characterization studies revealed a complex boride layer consisting of FeB, Fe2B, CrB, Cr3B4, Ni3B and Mo2B phases with 2366–2396 HV hardness. Wear tests showed that the abrasive wear resistance of the AISI 904L steel was improved by up to 40 times. The corrosion resistance of boronized AISI 904L was inferior to untreated AISI 904L in 3.5% NaCl, but comparable to AISI 316L.

Electropolymerization of polypyrrole coatings in the presence and absence of sodium nitrate was applied on rheo-cast Al-4.5% Si alloy and pure aluminum. The results showed that the eutectic silicon phase and intermetallic particles in the alloy’s microstructure increase the electrodeposition rate in comparison to the pure aluminum substrate. The electrochemical and microstructural studies show that the polypyrrole coatings are able to protect the surface due to the barrier properties and the passivation protection provided by the reduction of the conductive polymer. The coating electrodeposited from sodium nitrate-containing electrolyte presented improved protection for longer immersion time. Localized formation of a thick oxide layer as a result of the drastic galvanic coupling at the polypyrrole/aluminum interface leads to blister formation and failure of the coating. It was revealed that the coating could be deposited into the porosities produced by the casting related defects, but in most cases, this affects the corrosion protection leading to imminent failure.

—The aggregation and sedimentation of ultradispersed diamonds (UDDs) in a citrate copper-plating electrolyte (CCPE) used to fabricate composite electrochemical coatings are investigated. The sedimentation and aggregation stability is investigated in order to select the UDD concentration in the CCPE. This is necessary to fabricate composite copper coatings with improved operational characteristics (increased hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance), as well as impart them new properties (antifriction and catalytic). The UDD content in the electrolyte varies in limits from 0.2 to 2.0 g/L. The size distribution of the UDD particles in the electrolyte immediately after the suspension preparation and after the 10-day holding is determined using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 laser diffraction analyzer. The aggregation and sedimentation stability of the UDD suspension in the CCPE is investigated by the gravimetric method with the continuous weighing of a quartz small cap immersed into this suspension. The quartz cap is associated with a Sartorius R200D analytical balance with the help of a quartz wire. The experimentally determined time dependence of the weight of settling UDD particles is Q = f(t). The relative size distribution of the particles is determined from this dependence. It is established that the sedimentation stability is substantially affected by the aggregation of the particles, the intensity of which increases with an increase in the UDD concentration. The results satisfying the requirements on the aggregation and sedimentation stability are found for the UDD suspension in the CCPE with a concentration of 1.0 g/L. In this case, the high content of the dispersed phase is combined with aggregation and sedimentation stability, which makes it possible to fabricate copper composite coatings with improved operational properties. © 2019, Allerton Press, Inc.

The present study investigates the initial corrosion behaviour of HVAF-sprayed NiCr, NiAl and NiCrAlY coatings in two different environments, O 2 + H 2 O and O 2 + H 2 O + KCl at 600 °C for up to 168 h in order to evaluate the possibility of utilizing such coatings in biomass- and waste-fired boilers. SEM/EDX analysis showed that all coatings displayed a protective behaviour in O 2 + H 2 O. Upon addition of KCl (O 2 + H 2 O + KCl), the corrosion behaviour of the NiCr coating drastically changed as it formed a thick oxide layer and displayed major chlorine diffusion down to the substrate. The NiCrAlY coating displayed a significantly better corrosion resistance with only minor oxide formation. The NiAl coating exhibited a protective behaviour similar to when exposed in the absence of KCl indicating that a thin protective oxide has formed on the coating surface. The performance of the NiAl and NiCrAlY coatings is promising for future studies with long-term exposures in more corrosive environments such as in a biomass- and waste-fired boiler. © 2019, The Author(s).

Fatigue crack formation is the most important factor affecting the damage in parts under subjected to the repeated stresses. In this context, intensive researches are continuing on the protective hard coatings in the aviation and automotive sectors in order to increase the fatigue life especially in aluminum alloy parts. Chromium oxide (Cr2O3) based coatings are widely used in many industrial applications due to high corrosion resistance, high hardness and high surface resistance. In this study, fatigue crack propagation on 7075–T651 alloy with chromium oxide coating by thermal spraying method was investigated. Test results show that the crack propagation is slowed down by the chromium oxide based coating and increase the surface resistance of the aluminum alloy. © 2019 Polish Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Two different types of boron-doped graphene/copper interfaces synthesized using two different flow rates of Ar through the bubbler containing the boron source were studied. X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and optically stimulated electron emission (OSEE) measurements have demonstrated that boron-doped graphene coating provides a high corrosion resistivity of Cu-substrate with the light traces of the oxidation of carbon cover. The density functional theory calculations suggest that for the case of substitutional (graphitic) boron-defect only the oxidation near boron impurity is energetically favorable and creation of the vacancies that can induce the oxidation of copper substrate is energetically unfavorable. In the case of non-graphitic boron defects oxidation of the area, a nearby impurity is metastable that not only prevent oxidation but makes boron-doped graphene. Modeling of oxygen reduction reaction demonstrates high catalytic performance of these materials., 15 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Appl. Surf. Sci

Alloy 600 and Alloy 800H are susceptible to metal dusting. Both alloys were thermally sprayed with two different corrosion resistant coatings: Ni50Cr and Ni31Cr11Al0.6Y. Laser remelting was used to enhance further the effectiveness of these coatings to resist metal dusting by eliminating interconnected porosity and improving coating adhesion. Uncoated, coated and laser-treated coated samples of Alloy 600 and Alloy 800H were exposed to a mixed gas atmosphere (20% H2, 80% CO at 650°C). Samples were examined in plan and cross-section using optical and scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction. The extent of carbon deposition was tracked by mass difference measurements at intervals during exposure. The thermally sprayed coatings enhanced metal dusting resistance by acting as physical barriers to carbon ingress. The NiCrAlY coating performed well on both substrates. The NiCr coating itself underwent metal dusting and spalled from Alloy 800H due partly to CTE mis-match stresses. Laser treatment of both coatings successfully eliminated interconnected porosity and hence enhanced metal dusting resistance.

Thermally sprayed fluoropolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA) and fluorinated perfluoroethylenepropylene (FEP) coatings were produced by flame and plasma spraying processes. It was possible to produce high quality coatings by these techniques. These coating processes are one-step methods in which post heat treatments are not required, in contrast to conventional electrostatic deposition methods. Morphology and particle size distributions were determined for each fluoropolymer powder. The coatings prepared by plasma and flame spraying were studied by optical microscope, salt spray test and liquid immersion tests. Sprayed coatings were found to be poreless and very smooth. In salt spray test, no corrosion invasion was found. In both liquid immersion tests (pH values -0.7 and 14) only PFA coating performed well. The other coatings showed a little corrosion in liquid immersion tests. That was observed as darkening of the fluoropolymer coating in the areas that were exposed to corrosive liquid. According to sectioned micrographs, the coatings were fully dense.