Zirconium Modified Aluminide Coatings Obtained by the CVD Method

The paper presents the comparison of the structures of the zirconium modified aluminide coatings deposited on pure nickel by the CVD and method for different conditions, that is the gas flow and the time of deposition. The time of the aluminizing processes varied from 1.5 to 10 hours and the gas (HCl) flow varied from 0.4 to 1.4 l/min. Aluminum was deposited from the AlCl₃ and zirconium from the ZrCl₃ gas phases at 1040 oC. The obtained coatings were examined using an optical microscope (microstructure and coating thickness) a scanning electron microscope (chemical composition on the cross-section of the modified aluminide coating) and an XRD phase analyzer. Microstructures and phase compositions of coatings obtained at different process parameters do not differ significantly. In all cases, it is a triple zone structure. Chemical compositions of zones correspond to β-NiAl, γ’-Ni₃Al and γ-Ni (Al) phases. The elongation of the time of zirconium-aluminizing process from 1.5 to 10 hours leads to the increase of the coating thickness from 30 to about 60 μm. The EDS analysis and concentration profiles of the cross-section of the coating showed the nickel outward diffusion from the substrate and the aluminum inward diffusion from the surface to the nickel substrate. In coatings deposited at a slow gas flow porosity was observed on the border between β-NiAl and γ’-Ni₃Al layers. In coatings deposited at fast gas flow, zirconium does not form any inclusions but dissolves in the matrix. The Kirkendall porosity was not observed.