Experimental Design of Solid Particle Wear Behavior of Ni-Based Composite Coatings

The composition of nickel-based metal matrix NiCrBSi was varied with 5%, 10% and 15% of Al2O3 particles to obtain high wear resistant coatings by means of a high-velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) thermal spraying process. The coating was characterized by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The physical properties of coatings such as porosity, thickness, surface roughness, surface hardness, fracture toughness, bond strength and density were measured and compared. The experimental design of Taguchi L27 orthogonal array was employed to study and compare the effect of parameters such as impingement angle, impact velocity and alumina per cent in the coating on erosion. The coating containing 15 wt.% of Al2O3 and erodent speed of 33 m/s striking at inclination angle of 30 degrees proved to be the best arrangement in preventing volume loss to a minimum of 0.00015 cc due to low-impact energy, high bond strength and high surface hardness. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) supported the assertion that the impact angle (A) of erodent and composition (C) were the factors contributing most to the volumetric loss as indicated by their combined effect A x C leading to the highest combined factor of 7.34. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the eroded coatings reveal that the mechanisms of erosion were the fracturing of splats, development of craters, micro cutting and ploughing action.