Abstract
We investigate the sprayability of various hard metal and composite powder coatings via kinetic spray on cast iron by utilizing both powder and substrate preheat. These coatings include copper, a copper-zirconia composite, nickel, a zinc-nickel composite, and Ti6Al4V alloy. Using the kinetic spray process the coatings were applied to a cast iron substrate which was ground and sand blasted prior to spray. Analysis performed on powders and coating includes: cross-sectional microscopy, hardness of powders and substrate, substrate temperature as a function of heating and cooling times, and adhesion at the coating/substrate level. Results include spray parameters to allow for nickel and copper coatings to be developed on cast iron, adhesion strength as a function of powder hardness, porosity of nickel and Ti6Al4V coatings, and incorporation rates of zirconia in a copper matrix on cast iron. This is an attempt to spray hard powders on a hard substrate. Harder particles are more difficult to spray because they require more energy to plastically deform. Therefore the hardness of the particles plays a significant role in the deposition of a coating. Similarly, harder substrates are more difficult to spray on. This work demonstrates techniques that make spraying hard particles on hard substrates possible.
