Increasing α-phase content of alumina-chromia coatings deposited by suspension plasma spraying using hybrid and intermixed concepts

The novel method of hybrid suspension plasma spraying of dry coarse aluminum oxide powder with chromium oxide suspension using hybrid water/argon-stabilized (WSP-H 500) plasma torch was utilized for the deposition of coatings with very high α-phase content reaching up to 90%. The deposition mechanism and phase composition were compared with those of coatings deposited from i) intermixed alumina-chromia suspension and ii) alumina suspension doped with chromium nitrate nonahydrate solution. All deposition routes showed alternative ways of preparation of novel multimaterial coatings. It was demonstrated that the chromia addition and the deposition route play the crucial role in the pronounced formation of the thermodynamically stable α-phase.