The Mechanisms of Enhancement of Inter-Particle Bonding in In-Situ Micro-Forging Assisted Cold Spray

In this study, high-strength aluminum alloy AA7055 deposits are prepared using a recently developed cold spray process that employs in-situ microforging. The in-situ hammering effect is achieved by mixing large shot-peening particles into the spray powder and is shown to enhance interparticle bonding along with the plastic deformation of deposited particles. The underlying mechanisms are discussed based on the characterization of interface microstructure and the distribution of oxide film at the interparticle interface.