Deposition characteristics of titanium coating in cold spraying

Titanium coating was deposited by cold spraying process using nitrogen and helium gases under different temperatures and pressures. The deposition characteristics of the particle in cold spray were studied by the examination of the microstructure evolution of the deposited spot and coating. The effects of the gas type and temperature on the deposition behavior were examined. The microstructure was examined using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy It was found that the pattern of a sprayed spot in cold spray presents a conical shape. The deposition efficiency of spray particles increases with the increase in gas temperature. Two distinguishable top and inner regions exist in the spot deposit and coating, which are characterized by the porous and dense microstructures. The dense microstructure results from the accumulative effect of tamping on the top porous region by the successive impact of following particles. The tamping effect has great influence on the microstructure of the coating in cold spray. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.