Automotive, aerospace, and energy applications demand for reliable coating systems to enhance the operating efficiency and the lifetime of processes, machines, and components. HVOF sprayed WC-CoCr coatings are commonly used, especially for wear resistant applications. Due to their high hardness and adapted corrosion resistance WC-CoCr coatings show perfect preconditions for highly stressed tribological systems. However, dynamic loads, caused by vibrations, alternating temperatures or cycling are challenging issues. Fatigue cracking and delamination can occur, resulting in fatal damage of the coated component. Therefore, crack and fatigue resistant high performance coatings are needed. In this research work, the influence of the substrate pre- and post-treatment (grit-blasting and micro-finishing) on the fatigue behavior of warm sprayed WC-CoCr is investigated. It was determined that the fatigue behavior of the applied coating can be improved by micro-finishing. The smooth surface structure results in a low interface roughness. This significantly reduces notching effects under load and enhances the fatigue strength of the specimen.

The use of fine feedstock powder can extend the feasibility and scope of HVOF coatings to new fields of applications. Especially for the purpose of near-net-shape coatings they facilitate short spraying distances, homogeneous layer morphologies, and smooth coating surfaces. However, the small particle sizes also lead to several challenges. One major issue is the in-flight behavior which is distinctly affected by the low mass and relatively large surface of the particles. In this paper, the in-flight and coating characteristics of WC-CoCr 86-10-4 (-10 +2 μm) were investigated. It was determined that the fine powder feedstock shows a high sensitivity to the gas flow, velocity, and temperature of the spray jet. Because of their low mass inertia, their velocity, for example, is actually influenced by local pressure nodes (shock diamonds) in the supersonic flow. Additionally, the relatively large surface of the particles promotes partial overheating and degradation. Nevertheless, the morphological and mechanical properties of the sprayed layer are hardly affected. In fact, the coatings feature a superior surface roughness, porosity, hardness, and wear resistance.

This is the first of two papers concerning the intrinsic mechanical properties of arc-sprayed WC-FeCSiMn coatings. In part 1 the elastic and plastic forming behavior of the layers are investigated by indentation, bending and tensile tests. They were performed on coated mild steel substrates as well as freestanding as-sprayed samples with different geometries. Considering the coatings microstructure, element and pore distribution, as well as the local microhardness the results of the indentation, bending, and tensile tests were evaluated. The critical role of pores and inhomogeneities within the sprayed coating was examined in detail. Micro- and macrocracking were investigated by SEM after the indentation and tensile tests. In-situ surface observation by optical 3D-microscopy was used to study the onset of cracking during the 3-point bending test.

The characterization of thermal sprayed coatings is often limited to microstructural analysis to evaluate the coatings morphology. Indentation is commonly used to determine the mechanical properties of different kind of engineering materials. However, due to the complex structure of thermal sprayed coatings few results have been obtained so far. This is the second of two papers concerning the intrinsic mechanical properties of arc-sprayed WC-FeSiCMn coatings. In part 2 experimental nanoindentation tests and simulation results are compared. The experimental indentation tests show scattering in the force-deformation data due to the complex structure of the arc-sprayed coating which is investigated by means of an indentation test simulation. Based on these results the effective Young's modulus as well as further properties are identified. A general procedure is presented to predict the effective mechanical properties of different coating composites based on the microstructure, porosity and properties of the chemical composition after thermal spraying.

Detonation spraying provides the opportunity to produce superabrasive diamond grinding tools under atmospheric conditions. In this study, several methods are used to assess the effects of the spraying process on diamond particles, including SEM analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and friability and fracture force testing. It was found that under optimized conditions, the thermal and mechanical impact of the detonation can remain low enough to ensure the reliability of the diamonds with no adverse effects.

Grinding applications for the machining of stone and concrete require composite tools where large diamonds are perfectly embedded into a metallic matrix. With the detonation flame spraying process it is possible to manufacture these superabrasive composites. Excellent embedment of the voluminous superabrasive particles into the matrix coating material can be realized in order to produce high quality composite layers for grinding applications of stone and concrete. In this paper different diamond sizes as well as different volume contents of diamond in matrix are compared. Especially, the influence of particle size on its implantation efficiency is investigated and the influence of process and substrate temperature is analyzed. The thermal sprayed grinding tools are evaluated in the sense of their morphology as well as their grinding abilities. Compared to sintered diamond-bronze samples the results of an adaptively designed grinding test for the machining of concrete are presented and analyzed.

Superabrasive composite materials are typically used for grinding stone, minerals and concrete. Sintering and brazing are the key manufacturing technologies for grinding tools production. But restricted geometry-flexibility, absence of repair possibilities for damaged tool surfaces as well as difficulties in controlling materials interfaces are main weaknesses of these production processes. Thermal spraying offers the possibility to avoid these restrictions. In this research work a fabrication method based on the detonation flame spraying technology has been investigated to bond large superabrasive particles (150 – 600 µm, needed for grinding minerals and stones) in a metallic matrix. Layer morphology and bonding quality are evaluated with respect to superabrasive material, geometry, spraying- and powder-injection-parameters. Influences of process temperature and possibilities of thermal treatment of MMC-layers are analyzed.