Effect of Al on the Performance of Ni Based PTA Coatings

Degradation of components that operate under elevated temperature and carburizing environments involves the diffusion of C and the precipitation of carbides. Industries have been seeking for materials that can withstand these service conditions. The present work aimed to develop coatings to address this challenge through the enrichment of a Ni based alloy with Al. An atomized Ni alloy without Al and different powder mixtures with 15 and 30wt%Al were deposited by PTA on a carbon steel. Coatings were analyzed in the as deposited condition and after temperature exposure in an air furnace and pack cementation tests at 650º and 850ºC. Vickers microhardness profiles under a 500gf load, X-ray diffraction, optical and scanning electronic microscopy were done Results revealed that the presence of Al lead to the development of a complex intermetallic phases which were associated with the enhanced metallurgical stability of the coatings under the tested temperatures. The superior performance of the coatings deposited with the powder mixture containing 30wt%Al after pack cementation was associated with the development of the NiAl intermetallic phase and of the oxide layer Al₂O₃ that stabilized the microstructure at the tested temperatures and reduced the diffusion of C.