High-pressure cold spraying has shown significant potential in manufacturing metallic composite coatings for a wide range of industrial applications, including wear and corrosion protection. Quasi-crystalline materials, in turn, are promising candidates due to their unique microstructural features. Combining these concepts, metallic composite coatings were generated using high-pressure cold spraying to produce functional and protective coatings. Several spray trials were done to detect the effect of compositions and size of quasi-crystalline feedstock materials mixed with metal powders, Al6061, and stainless steel 316L, on coating microstructure, integrity, and surface properties. A scanning electron microscope was used to examine the microstructure of the feedstock materials and composite coatings. A 3D surface optical profilometer was also used to investigate surface texture. The wettability of the coating surfaces was measured by static water contact angles using a droplet shape analyzer. Cold-sprayed quasi-crystalline composite coatings showed denser and well-integrated deposits with a random distribution of phases across the composite surface, indicating promising structural reliability and hydrophobic behavior.

Cold Spray is a solid-state Additive Manufacturing process of 3D near-net-shape parts which requires the implementation of a good spraying strategy and the choice of the right operating parameters. This paper is the result of empirical studies on the determination of the optimal processing conditions (spraying and kinematics) for the Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing (CSAM) of pure aluminum powder using a stable layers building strategy. Vertical 3D deposits (thick walls) with a height and thickness of 13-100 mm and 5-11 mm, respectively, were obtained through a series of tests that consider an effect of some kinematic parameters. The visual analysis of the deposits shows that the nozzle traverse speed as well as middle/edge pass number ratio constitute the two most influential parameters on the final shape of the deposits (flatness and straightness). All these results prove the potential of the Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing (CSAM) process as fast 3D additive method using micron sized powders, and particularly for Al powder.

In order to investigate the potentials to improve the deposition efficiency and to functionalize the polymer-based substrates, six configurations of microparticles Sn, Zn, Al, Sn+Al 2 O 3 , Al+Al 2 O 3 , Cu+Al 2 O 3 were cold sprayed on the substrate of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites equipped with Cu-based sublayer or Al-based sublayer. The process conditions were kept unchanged. Microanalysis of sublayers and coatings was performed via a Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM), the deposition mechanisms of different powders couplings on CFRP substrate were then discussed. The results indicated that although the deposition efficiencies were negative, the systems of Zn, Al and Al+Al 2 O 3 perform better among all the configurations. It was found that the addition of alumina led to a lower deposition efficiency (DE), compared to the corresponding pure coatings. For single-component Sn, Zn and Al powders, they all showed an increasing trend of DE when changing the substrate from Cu-based systems to Al-based systems. The aim of this present work is to elaborate the intrinsic causes of erosion issues and to provide a reference value for picking spraying materials and preparing functionalized CFRP substrates. According to the SEM analysis, the insufficient deformation and escape behaviours of spherical copper powders explained for the difficulty of coating formation. It was noticeable that the surfaces of Al-based systems were more uniform than those of Cu-based ones, due to their desirable deformation abilities. Besides, the significant flattened particles, material mixing and melting phenomenon were observed in Al-involved systems, which would definitely contribute to the adhesive bonding between coating and substrate.

In the past few years, the Extreme High-Speed Laser Material Deposition (EHLA) process has been used as a coating technology alongside conventional processes due to its unique process characteristics and is an economical and sustainable alternative to traditional technologies. The essential characteristic of the process is that the main energy is absorbed by the powder particles so that they reach the substrate surface in a molten state. Thereby, metallurgically bonded and dense wear and corrosion protection coatings are generated. This leads to significantly higher surface and deposition rates can be achieved in comparison to Laser Material Deposition (LMD), and heat-sensitive substrates can be coated. Moreover, in addition to this resource efficiency, the process is not only economically attractive but also sustainable. To reduce component weights as well as secondary energy consumption, aluminium has become an essential base material in most industrial sectors. Aluminium is not simple to process and the wear resistance is small due to the low hardness in comparison to widely used steels. Various technology solutions are currently being investigated for the coating of aluminium. The low melting temperature of aluminium (approx. 750 °C) poses a great challenge when coating with, for example, iron-based alloys. Another challenge for laser-based systems is the reflectance of aluminium in the wavelength range approx. between 1030-1070 nm of conventional laser beam sources. The high degree of reflection of aluminium is the reason why additive processing quiet challenging is. Therefore, for conventional laser-based processes, laser beam sources in other wavelength spectra, e.g. green or blue, are being developed to improve the processing of aluminium. Currently, commercially available multi-kW lasers in the visible light spectrum are still below the available power of IR beam sources. In the context of this study, the feasibility of coating aluminium using EHLA is investigated. A high power 8 kW IR disk laser of the TRUMPF company is used to determine the maximum possible deposition and surface rate.

This study aims to develop a metal-based compatibilizing sublayer on a Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composite to overcome the erosion issue of polymer substrate using the cold spray deposition technique. The objective is to contribute to the in-situ repair of aircraft structures. Two cases of sublayers, i.e., Al-based sublayer (1126 μm thick) and Cu-based sublayer (547 μm thick), have been prepared and co-cured with the CFRP substrates by pressure assisted molding process. Gas-atomized copper powders were deposited on a reference sample of aluminum panel (A-0) and on two functionalized composite substrates (A-1 and C-1) by a high-pressure cold spraying (HPCS) process. The results show that cold spray deposition onto the Al-based sublayer leads to a coating formation whereas the Cu-based sublayer is strongly eroded by the supersonic collision of copper powders. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) morphologies were used to investigate the HPCS deposition mechanisms on various configurations of substrates. It was found that the high deposition efficiency of case Cu/A-0 was achieved by metallic bonding, evidenced by the significant flattening powders and agglomeration phenomenon of multiple particles. The copper particles of case Cu/A-1, encapsulated by the deformed aluminum powders, could anchor to the substrate via mechanical interlocking, whereas only pure localized fracture of epoxy and exposed broken carbon fibers were observed on the substrate of case Cu/C-1. The results demonstrated the feasibility of an Al-based sublayer-assisted cold spray process for the thermosetting CFRP composite to achieve a successful deposition of copper powders, which also emphasized the necessity to search an optimal material coupling between sublayers and coatings.

Cold spray is a well-established thermal spray process for metal coatings, but it is unsuitable for depositing ceramics. However, cold spray has been used to spray a thin layer of ceramics to improve surface properties. This paper aims to find the spraying parameters to deposit alumina particles onto an aluminum substrate, investigating the retention phenomenon through computational modelling. We used the finite element analysis in the coupled Eulerian Lagrange formulation to predict the particle-substrate interaction. The Johnson-Cook plasticity model and Mie-Gruneisen equation of state were employed to describe the substrate behaviour. Alumina particles were assumed to be elastic. To assess the retention phenomenon, we varied spraying parameters such as particle speed, substrate temperature, and deposition angle. The findings showed that initial velocity and the substrate temperature facilitate penetration of the ceramic particles into the substrate; thus, the penetration increases the chance of retention into the substrate. The deposition angle affects the jet shape, and specific deposition angles cause erosion. Overall, the findings denote that certain cold spraying parameters may improve the retention of ceramic particles into metal substrates.

Unlike their metal counterparts, composite structures do not readily conduct away the electrical currents generated by lightning strikes. Cost reduction and expected production growth of the next middle range airplanes require automated manufacturing process of polymer components. The development of an automated technology to metallize polymer based composite for lightning strike protection is the aim of the CO3 project (EU Grant agreement: ID831979). In this study, thermal and electrical conductivities of composites were achieved by cold spray deposition of Cu or Al coatings. Critical points to be addressed were substrate erosion during cold spray, lack of polymer-metal adhesion and poor deposition efficiency. Several strategies were tested: i) a thin polymer film was cocured at the substrate surface before cold spraying, to enable implantation of metallic particles in the film, helping coating build-up and protecting the fibers of the composite. ii) Cold spraying a mix of metal and polymer powders to improve coating adhesion and prevent fiber damage. iii) Supercritical Nitrogen Deposition technology, prior to cold spray, to mechanically anchor metallic particles into the polymer. Subsequent cold spraying of purely metallic coatings was more efficient and showed better adhesion. All coatings were tested in terms of adhesion strength and electrical conductivity.

This present work investigates the effect of electromagnetic fields on cold spray processes by means of an induction-heating cold spray (IHCS) system. Aluminum powder was cold sprayed onto inductively heated Ti6Al-4V (Ti64) substrates. These materials were selected to minimize the mechanical contribution to coating adhesion. As a result, changes in coating adhesion strength can be attributed to improved metallic bond formation due to the effect of the electromagnetic field. Four different initial substrate surface temperatures were used in the study to assess the role of initial temperature as well. Deposition efficiency and adhesion and tensile strength measurements were recorded and are used to characterize the hybrid coating process and compare it with traditional techniques.

In previous studies at McGill University, tin was successfully cold sprayed onto carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs). A “crack-filling” mechanism was described as the deposition mechanism that allowed deposition of tin onto the CFRP. Improving the coating conductivity for lightning strike protection (LSP) purposes was achieved by adding other metal powders (aluminum, copper, zinc) to tin and cold spraying on the CFRP. At the same time, it was noticed that the addition of this secondary component (SC) provided an increase in deposition efficiency (DE), tamping was initially hypothesized to explain this improvement, thus prompting a study solely on the effect of SC hardness, which is reported elsewhere in this conference. However, it is recognised that other powder characteristics may also be influencing the DE. Thus, in this study, SCs with a wider variety of particle sizes, morphologies, densities and hardness values were mixed with tin and sprayed on CFRPs. The effect of SC properties on tin deposition is discussed and an optimal combination of SC properties for cold spraying of tin is suggested.

In the cold spray process, cross-sectional shape of the nozzle has a significant effect on spray pattern of coatings. The circular exit nozzle is parabolic in shape. So, spray pattern with the rectangular nozzle is wider than that with the circular spray nozzle. The goal of this investigation is to establish a design for the cold spray gun nozzle to gain more uniform spray profile of coatings. We have investigated the influence of expansion ratio, nozzle total length and the ratio of nozzle length of divergent section and parallel section of rectangular nozzle on behaviors of gas and particle by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in high pressure cold spraying. We have studied copper particles so far. In this study, we will examine aluminum particles. First, we investigate the influence of the size and shape of the rectangular section nozzle on the velocity, temperature, and particle distribution of aluminum particles by CFD. After that, the rectangular section nozzles were fabricated and coating formation experiments were conducted, spray patterns and coating cross-sectional structures were observed, and coating adhesion was also evaluated. The nozzle material was polybenzimidazole resin, which is difficult for aluminum particles to attach to nozzle walls.

In this study, a novel strategy to manufacture high strength cold-sprayed Al coating by using powder with wide size distribution is proposed. The microstructure and mechanical properties of deposited coating sprayed at three typical impact velocities before and after heat treatment are investigated. Furthermore, the deposition and strengthening mechanisms of the coating sprayed at various impact velocities are clarified. The results show that the coating with higher density and mechanical properties can be successfully fabricated by cold spray at comparatively low particle impact velocity. The mechanical properties were enhanced with the contribution of heat treatment process. It is the in-process tamping effect induced by larger powder that results in the severe plastic deformation thus leads to densification and excellent mechanical properties of the cold-sprayed Al coating.

Ni-Al intermetallics have excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance, but their use in thermal spraying has been limited due to issues with in-flight oxidation. In this study, a novel approach is proposed to remove oxide from Ni-Al droplets in-flight by adding a deoxidizer (diamond) to the feedstock powder. A mixture of nickel, aluminum, and diamond powders was mechanically alloyed using a combination of cryogenic and planetary ball milling. The resulting Ni/Al/diamond composite powder was then plasma sprayed via the APS process, forming Ni-Al coatings on Inconel 738 substrates. Phase composition, microstructure, porosity, and microhardness of the coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, image analysis, and hardness testing, respectively. Oxygen content measurements showed that the coatings contained significantly less oxygen than coatings made from ordinary Ni/Al powders. In-flight particle temperatures were also measured and found to be higher than 2300 °C. The low oxygen content in the coatings is attributed to the in-situ deoxidizing effect of ultrahigh temperature droplets which are also oxide-free.

This study investigates the in-flight behavior of particles during cold spraying by means of high-speed shadowgraph photography using a laser imaging system. It also characterizes the particle jet outside the nozzle for different powder sizes (<10 µm to 155 µm) and densities (copper, aluminum). Observations of the jet reveal two low-pressure cold spray flow regimes, one stable, the other unstable, the effect and control of which are discussed.

The purpose of this work is to study the effect of laser radiation on powder particles transported by gas during laser cladding. The temperature and velocity of particles entering the light field of a CO 2 laser were determined by measuring particle radiation as well as the scattered radiation of the diode laser, two independent methods. It is shown that under the action of laser radiation, the particles acquire additional acceleration due to the vapor pressure from the irradiated part of the particle surface. This sonic recoil vapor pressure can significantly affect the in-flight characteristics of powder particles in a gas jet. Particle velocities due to laser acceleration exceeded 100 m/s in a carrier gas with a flow rate less than 30 m/s. Particle temperature depends on several factors and was found to vary from ambient temperature to the boiling point of the powder.

Single component tin coatings have been successfully cold-sprayed onto carbon fiber reinforced polymers. Coatings with mixed metal powders have also been sprayed to improve conductivity for lightning strike protection purposes. Test results indicate a noticeable improvement in deposition efficiency with the addition of a secondary metallic powder. This study examines the effect of aluminum powder additions in tin coatings. Following cold spraying of various Sn-Al mixtures over a wide range of gas pressures, unusual coating morphologies were observed. The study of these morphologies reveals two distinct deposition phases depending on spray pressure. The presence of submicron particles also supports the occurrence of a powder melting phenomenon during the spraying process.

The fracture toughness of pure Al, Cu, Ni, and Ti deposited by cold spraying was investigated to gain a better understanding of the damage process and quantify material performance. Rectangular specimens of self-standing deposits with fatigue pre-cracks were tested in three-point bending. KIC values were obtained from J-R curves and stress-strain curves were plotted. The cold-sprayed deposits exhibited significantly lower fracture toughness than the same wrought materials, and fractographic analysis revealed either ductile or cleavage intergranular fracture as the major failure mode.

In this study, finite element models are used to simulate the impact of porous WC-Co and Al particles cold sprayed onto substrates of the same materials. Effects of high strain rate, heat generation due to plasticity, interfacial friction, heat transfer, and material damage and failure are taken into account as are differences in the initial kinetic energy and strength of the materials. It was found that the influence of porosity increases with impact velocity and that the pores channel stress waves in unique ways not observed for solid particles. The results suggest that using porous particles for solid-state consolidation, as in cold spraying, could have advantages in terms of energy dissipation, although further investigation is required.

In this study, pure Al coating was deposited via in-situ shot-peening-assisted cold spray method in order to study the effect of the in-situ tamping effect which was caused by the impact of large sized shot-peening particles on grains size evolution of coatings. The microstructures of the as-sprayed Al coating were observed by using Scanning Electron Microscope and Electron Backscatter Diffraction. A commercial gas atomized Al powder with a grain size range of 10-20 μm was used as the spraying powder. The cross section of the as-sprayed Al particles presented elongated rectangular morphologies, which indicated that the nearly spherical particles experienced severe plastic deformation by the impact of large sized shot-peening particles. It was found that dynamic recrystallization of dislocations-ridden regions was responsible for the grain refinement of cold sprayed coating. Aluminum grains with size of several tens to several hundred of nanometers can be apparently recognized at the whole cross section of the particle. Therefore, in-situ shot-peening-assisted cold spray method can deposit completely nanocrystalline coating using micrometer-grain powder, and thus can be employed to develop high quality coatings of commercial importance.

For fabrication of high strength carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced Al matrix composites, the uniform dispersion, strong interface bonding and high structural integrity of CNTs have been regard as the three most important issues. In this work, two distinct approaches, namely high shear dispersion (HSD) and shift-speed ball milling (SSBM), were applied to disperse CNTs (1.5 wt.%) into pure Al powders. These two kinds of CNTs/Al composite powders as well as pure Al powders (as comparison) were deposited onto stainless steel plates under the same processing parameters. The deposition efficiency, microstructure, as well as the structural integrity of CNTs in the coatings produced from different starting powders were comparatively investigated. According to the XRD and Raman analysis, the brittle Al 4 C 3 phase was not formed in both CNTs/Al composite coatings. Some structural damages of CNTs were found in both composite coatings, especially the one fabricated from HSD composite powder. The dispersion of CNTs onto Al particle surfaces by HSD approach did not achieve significant strengthening effect on the composite coatings, but adversely affect the metallic bonding of the particles. The microhardness of CNTs/Al composite coating produced from SSBM powders reached to ~115 HV0.1, showing a significant improvement compared to the pure Al coating. The strengthening mechanisms of the cold sprayed CNTs/Al composite coatings were also investigated.

Cold spray is continuously expanding for the repair of parts made of aluminum-based alloys. Beyond repair applications, the process is now expected to be exploited efficiently for the additive manufacturing of shaped parts. However, up to now, cold spray is limited to the achievement of rather simple shapes due to a lack of basic knowledge on coating build-up mechanisms to result in dimension-controlled deposition. The objective of this work is to fill that gap through an experimental and modeling study of the coating build-up in cold spray for this specific application. Experimentally, Al-based coatings were deposited for a large range of particle velocity due to the use of low-pressure, medium-pressure and high-pressure cold spray facilities. Particle velocity was monitored as a function of cold spray conditions. Two different types of Al 2024 (Aluminium 2024 Alloy) powders were tested. Coating porosity and microhardness were studied as a function of (both morphological and metallurgical) powder characteristics and spray conditions, primarily in the light of particle velocity. Various correlations could be exhibited. Finite element (FE) simulations of particle impacts were developed, including particle velocity from experimental measurements. These will be used as inputs in an in-house morphological model, the first stages of which could be established successfully.