High-temperature nickel-based superalloys such as 1N718 are widely used in gas turbine components as they remain stable at operating temperatures up to ~750°C. There is now a growing interest in the repair and refurbishment of such components using spray deposition techniques. Although many investigations have been carried out to study the effect of conventional processing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 1N718, much less attention has been given to the alloy when sprayed to form a coating. The purpose of the present study was to investigate and compare 1N718 deposits produced by HVOF spraying and cold gas spray deposition. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were employed to examine the microstructural evolution of the coatings and to compare the deposition behaviour of the two different processes. Particular attention was paid to porosity, oxide content and the formation of secondary intermetallic phases. Coating microhardness and bond strength were also measured. Results will be presented and discussed in the context of the different thermal histories of the powder particles in the two processes.

Over the past five years, interest in cold gas dynamic spraying (CGDS) has increased substantially. Considerable effort has been devoted to process development and optimization for low melting point metals such as copper and aluminium. This paper will describe work undertaken to expand the understanding of deposition of titanium by cold spray methods. CGDS deposits have been produced from commercially pure Ti. Using room temperature helium gas, a range of processing conditions, powder size ranges, substrates and substrate preparation methods have been employed to study their impact on deposition of powders. Scanning electron microscopy has been employed to examine deposit microstructures, and microhardness testing of deposits has been conducted. Samples for pull-off bond strength test have been prepared from a number of the more promising sets of parameters and adhesive strengths have been determined. Computational estimates of gas velocity and in-flight particle velocity have been made focusing specifically on the influence that these factors have on the process deposition efficiency. Differences will be discussed in terms of powder feedstock characteristics and the underlying physical and mechanical properties of the powders and substrates.

The HVOF spraying process has recently been considered for the deposition of dense alumina coatings for dielectric coatings in semiconductor applications and as a turbine blade tip coating in aeroengines. However, due to the lower flame temperature of the HVOF process compared to the plasma spray process it is necessary to have good control over the key process parameters to achieve the correct coating characteristics. The work reported presents the results of a design of experiment study carried out on a TopGun HVOF system used to prepare coatings of alumina. The influence of several key parameters on coating characteristics such as porosity, alumina phase type, microhardness, surface roughness and adhesion have been determined. The parameters varied included oxygen and hydrogen fuel gas flow rates, and spray distance. Based on the results of these investigations recommendations are made on the control of key parameters and the range of coating characteristics that can be expected.

Aluminium-based plain bearings for gasoline internal combustion engines are traditionally manufactured by casting and rolling, followed by forming and boring. The application places severe demands on the bearing material and a combination of properties such as fatigue, seizure and wear resistance are required. These properties are achieved by using a multi-phase material comprising of a distribution of tin in an aluminium alloy matrix. HVOF has been investigated as an alternative process for bearing manufacture and as a route to producing novel bearing materials with microstructures that cannot be achieved using the conventional casting route. The work reported describes the use of different HVOF spraying systems and powder types to develop aluminium-tin based coatings for advanced bearing applications. The coatings are described in terms of microstructure characteristics. The fatigue performance of the advanced sprayed bearings is compared with conventional cast bearings.

This paper reports on a modified diamond jet HVOF spray gun, which makes it possible to produce layers of stainless steel and nickel alloys with very low levels of oxide and porosity. The corrosion behavior of these layers is compared with that of coatings produced with a conventional HVOF gun. Cross-sectional examinations carried out before and after corrosion testing show where and when corrosion attacks occur. Paper includes a German-language abstract.

The application of HVOF spraying to deposit high quality coatings of corrosion resistant alloys for protecting an underlying steel substrate against corrosion in seawater has received much interest over the past few years. Despite the attainment of low levels of porosity and oxide, the coatings to not appear to offer the same level of corrosion resistance as the corresponding bulk materials. The aim of the work reported here is to demonstrate the level of corrosion performance that can be expected from coatings of corrosion resistant alloys deposited using the HVOF spraying process. Three alloy types are considered, a stainless steel with a composition similar to 316L, a nickel alloy with a composition similar to 625 alloy, and commercially pure titanium.

Thermal spraying of corrosion resistant alloys onto low alloy steel substrates has received much attention as a method to protect against corrosion in seawater or corrosive solutions, such as mineral or organic acids. The need to ensure high coating quality with minimal porosity and cracking, and with low oxide levels is best achieved in metallic alloys using the high velocity oxyfuel (HVOF) spraying process. This article investigates the electrochemical corrosion behavior of HVOF sprayed coatings, covering coating preparation and characterization, immersion testing, and electrochemical testing. The discussion provides information on immersion test results, polarization plots for coatings, comparison of corrosion performance, influence of microstructure on corrosion performance, and comparison with bulk alloy materials. The results reported in this article have been selected to demonstrate the use of the cyclic potentiodynamic polarization method to rank the corrosion performance of HVOF sprayed Ni-alloy coatings.

A reaction-formed NiAl intermetallic compound (IMC) powder has been deposited as a coating onto low carbon steel test coupons by the High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) process using both gaseous and liquid fuels. The microstructure of this coating has been examined using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction and was found to depend on spraying conditions. Oxidation tests on the coating in air, between the temperatures of 800°C-1200°C, revealed that an α-alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) scale formed on the coating's surface. At 1200°C, a nickel spinel (NiO/NiAl 2 O 4 ) and haematite (Fe 2 O 3 ) phases were observed. Diffusion studies were performed to calculate an activation energy for iron ion diffusion in NiAl.

Coatings have been produced by HVOF spraying of four different WC-Co powders, using two fuel gases and two oxygen contents in the flame, and characterised in terms of microstructure and resistance to abrasive wear. It is concluded that there is a close correlation between high levels of chemical reaction, occurring during spraying (and possibly during powder production), and poor wear resistance. Good wear resistance is favoured by using low porosity powders, which interact with the atmosphere less readily during spraying, and also by using a flame with a relatively low oxygen content. This probably minimises the degree of reaction by ensuring that conditions are reducing. Use of propylene rather than hydrogen gives coatings with slightly better wear resistance, despite the fact that the flame temperatures are higher. It is concluded that, for this relatively small rise in temperature, the positive effect on inter-splat cohesion seems to outweigh the negative effect of increased decarburisation.