Preparation of Ni60-WC Coating by Plasma Spraying, Plasma Re-melting and Plasma Spray Welding on Surface of Hot Forging Die

In order to produce the hear-resistant inner layer of hot-forging die, the plasma spraying and plasma re-melting and plasma spray welding were adopted. Substrate material was W6Mo5Cr4V2, including 10%, 20%, 30% tungsten carbide （WC） ceramic powder used as coating material to obtain different Nickel-based WC alloys coating. Micro-structure and micro-hardness analysis of the coating layer are conducted, as well as thermophysical properties for the coating layer were measured. The experimental results show that the coating prepared with 70%Ni60, 30%WC powder has the best properties with plasma spray welding, in which the micro-hardness can achieve 900HV, meanwhile it can improve the thermal property of hot-forging die dramatically.

Ni60-SiC Coating Prepared by Plasma Spraying, Plasma Re-melting and Plasma Spray Welding on Surface of Hot Forging Die

In order to produce the hear-resistant inner layer of hot-forging die, plasma spraying and plasma re-melting and plasma spray welding were adopted. Substrate material was W6Mo5Cr4V2, including 10%, 20%, 30% SiC ceramic powder used as coating material to obtain different Ni-based SiC alloys coating. Micro-structure and micro-hardness analysis of the coating layer were followed, as well as thermophysical properties for the coating layer were measured. The experimental results show that the coating prepared with 70% Ni60, 30% SiC powder has best properties with plasma spray welding, in which the micro-hardness can achieve 1100 HV, meanwhile can improve the thermal property of hot-forging die dramatically.

Non-isothermal Crystallization and Thermal Transformation Behaviors of Plasma Sprayed Fe_(48)Cr_(15)Mo_(14)C_(15)B_(6)Y_(2)Amorphous Coating

The non-isothermal crystallization dynamic behavior and mechanism of plasma sprayed Fe_(48)Cr_(15)Mo_(14)C_(15)B_(6)Y_(2)coating were thoroughly studied.The phase transition and crystallization kinetics of the coating were elaborately investigated by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The findings reveal that the characteristic temperatures of the coating shift to an elevated temperature at a higher heating rate and the crystallization processes are thermally activated.The 3-rd step of crystallization processes is more susceptible to the continuously increased heating rate while the onset crystallization reaction is less sensitive to the continuously enhanced heating rate.Fe_(23)(C,B)_6 phase is inclined to precipitate than other crystal phases due to the substantial pre-generation ofα-Fe.The onset nucleation and growth ofα-Fe crystals is tough due to a higher onset apparent activation energy.Meanwhile,the transformation from Fe_(23)(C,B)_(6)to FeB is harder in comparison with the precipitation of other crystals.The most parts of the three crystallization processes are dominated by three-dimensional diffusion model due to the fact that most values of local Avrami exponent are higher than 2.5.

Preparation of Ni60-Cr_3C_2 Coating by Plasma Spraying,Plasma Re-melting and Plasma Spray Welding on W6Mo5Cr4V2

In order to prepare heatresistant inner layer of hot-forging die, plasma spraying, plasma re- melting and plasma spray welding were adopted. Cr3C2 coatings of Ni-Based were prepared respectively with 10%, 20% and 30% Cr3C2 powder and W6Mo5Cr4V2 substrate. The coating microstructure analysis, the micro-hardness test, and the measurement of thermal parameters of coating were conducted. The experimental results show that the coating has the better thermo-physical property by using plasma spray welding method with the powder ratio of 90% Ni60 and 10% Cr3C2, and by this way the micro-hardness of coating can achieve 1100 HV.

Welding of Ti-6Al-4V alloy using dynamically controlled plasma arc welding process

A novel dynamically controlled plasma arc welding process was introduced,which is able tominimize heat input into the workpiece materials while maintaining desired full penetration,and it was used to weld Ti-6Al-4V alloy sheets.The microstructures,facture surfaces and microhardness of the welded joints were characterized by using optical microscope,scanning electron microscope （SEM） and Vickers microhardness tester.Comparing with welds such as gas tungsten arc and conventional plasma arc processes,the experimental results revealed the improvements when using the present process including：1） reducing prior-beta （β） grain size and prohibiting formation of hard martensite phases in the fusion zone due to the decreased heat input;and 2） better toughness and higher hardness.

Microstructure and corrosion resistance of Fe/Mo composite amorphous coatings prepared by air plasma spraying

Fe/Mo composite coatings were prepared by air plasma spraying （APS） using Fe-based and Mo-based amorphous and nanocrys- talline mixed powders. Microstructural studies show that the composite coatings present a layered structure with low porosity due to adding the self-bonded Mo-based alloy. Corrosion behaviors of the composite coatings, the Fe-based coatings and the Mo-based coatings were in- vestigated by electrochemical measurements and salt spray tests. Electrochemical results show that the composite coatings exhibit a lower polarization current density and higher corrosion potentials than the Fe-based coating when tested in 3.5wt% NaC1 solutions, indicating supe- rior corrosion resistance compared with the Fe-based coating. Also with the increase in addition of the Mo-based alloy, a raised corrosion re- sistance, inferred by an increase in corrosion potential and a decrease in polarization current density, can be found. The results of salt spray tests again show that the corrosion resistance is enhanced by adding the Mo-based alloy, which helps to reduce the porosity of the composite coatings and enhance the stability of the passive films.

Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Grain Growth of Nanostructured YSZ Thermal Barrier Coating Prepared by Air Plasma Spraying

A nanostructured thermal barrier coating is prepared by air plasma spraying using the 8wt% Y_2O_3 partially stabilized zirconia nano-powder with an average grain size of 40 nm. The microstructure and phase composition of feedstock nano-powder and coating are investigated using SEM, TEM and XRD. It is found that the as-sprayed zirconia coating has an average grain size of 67 nm and mainly consistes of metastable tetragonal phase, together with some monoclinic phase and tetragonal phase. Thermal treatment results show that the grains of the nanostructured coating grow slightly below 900℃, whereas over 1000℃ the gains grow rapidly and monoclinic phase noticeably appeares.

Relationship between sound signal and weld pool status in plasma arc welding

The sound features of the weld pool status in plasma arc welding were systematically investigated after the sound signal was collected with a microphone. The results show that it is difficult to extract information about the weld pool status directly in time domain although the sound signal varies with the weld pool behaviors to some extent. The frequency spectra of the sound signal contain plenty of information about the weld pool behaviors. It is shown from the analysis of the sound generation mechanism that the sound signal of plasma arc welding is mainly caused by the weld pool oscillation, the power source fluctuation and so on. R S algorithm is designed to determine the weld pool status, and it is able to offer the feedback information for the closed loop control of the penetration quality of plasma arc welding. [

Study of Multi-Function Micro-Plasma Spraying Technology

A multi-functional micro-arc plasma spraying system was developed according to aerodynamics and plasma spray theory. The soft switch IGBT （Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor） invert technique, micro-computer control technique, convergent-divergent nozzle structure and axial powder feeding techniques have been adopted in the design of the micro-arc plasma spraying system. It is not only characterized by a small volume, a light weight, highly accurate control, high deposition efficiency and high reliability, but also has multi-functions in plasma spraying, welding and quenching. The experimental results showed that the system can produce a supersonic flame at a low power, spray Al2O3 particles at an average speed up to 430 m/s, and make nanostructured AT13 coatings with an average bonding strength of 42.7 MPa. Compared to conventional 9M plasma spraying with a higher power, the coatings with almost the same properties as those by conventional plasma spray can be deposited by multi-functional micro-arc plasma spraying with a lower power plasma arc due to an improved power supply design, spray gun structure and powder feeding method. Moreover, this system is suitable for working with thin parts and undertaking on site repairs, and as a result, the application of plasma spraying will be greatly extended.

Study of Dynamic Features of Surface Plasma in High-Power Disk Laser Welding

High-speed photography was used to obtain the dynamic changes in the surface plasma during a high-power disk laser welding process. A color space clustering algorithm to extract the edge information of the surface plasma region was developed in order to improve the accuracy of image processing. With a comparative analysis of the plasma features, i.e., area and height, and the characteristics of the welded seam, the relationship between the surface plasma and the stability of the laser welding process was characterized, which provides a basic understanding for the real-time monitoring of laser welding.

Preparation and characterization of nanostructured Al_2O_3-13wt.%TiO_2 ceramic coatings by plasma spraying

Nanostructured and conventional Al2O3-13wt.%TiO2 ceramic coatings were prepared by plasma spraying with nanostructured agglomerated and conventional powders, respectively. The microstructure and microhardness of the coatings were investigated using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS）, and microhardness measurement. Meanwhile, the friction and wear behaviors were analyzed and compared using a ball-on-disk tribometer. The results show that the conventional coating has lamellar stacking characteristic and has some pores. However, the nanostructured coating shows a bimodal microstructure, which is composed of both fully melted regions and partially melted regions. According to the microstructural difference, the partially melted regions can be divided into liquid-phase sintered regions （a three-dimensional net or skeleton-like structure： Al2O3-rich submicron particles embedded in the TiO2-rich matrix） and solid-phase sintered regions （remained nanoparticles）. The microstructural characteristics of the liquid-phase sintered region are formed due to the selective melting of TiO2 nanoparticles during plasma spraying. On the other hand, the TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles of the solid-phase sintered regions are all unmelted during plasma spraying. Due to the existence of nanostructured microstructures, the nanostructured coating has a higher microhardness, a lower friction coefficient, and a better wear resistance than the conventional coating.

Investigation on the deposition rate and the dilution ratio of plasma surface welding

A new kind of plasma technology with both high deposition rate and low dilution ratio was developed under the calculation and analysis of the arc flame characteristics of plasma arc,the kinematics behavior of powder and powder's heating in the arc. Compared with normal plasma surfacing method, the idea using constricting nozzle with small orifice diameter, long plasma arc and increasing the distance from meeting point of the two beams of powder to workpiece, to achieve the goals of high deposition rate and low dilution ratio, was put forward here. In order to prove this idea, a set of experimental system was built up and obtained satisfied results including high deposition rate(more than 25 kg/h )and low dilution ratio(less than 5%). The success of this study offers a promising prospect for developing the powder plasma surface welding in China and may open a way to improve this technology further in efficiency and quality.

High-temperature frictional wear behavior of MCrAlY-based coatings deposited by atmosphere plasma spraying

Al2O3-r2O03/NiCoCrAIYTa coatings were prepared via atmosphere plasma spraying （APS）. The microstructure and phase com- position of the coatings were analyzed by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, laser confocal scanning microsco- py （LSCM）, and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. The dry frictional wear behavior of the coatings at 500℃ in static air was inves- tigated and compared with that of 0Cr25Ni20 steel. The results show that the coatings comprise the slatted layers of oxide phases, unmelted particles, and pores. The hot abrasive resistance of the coatings is enhanced compared to that of 0Cr25Ni20, and their mass loss is approxi- mately one-fifteenth that of 0Cr25Ni20 steel. The main wear failure mechanisms of the coatings are abrasive wear, fatigue wear, and adhe- sive wear.

APPLICATION OF UNIFORM PRECRIPTION DESIGN IN STUDYING OF WEARREISTANT COATING IN PLASMA SPRAYING

Plasma spraying technics, a method of strengthening surfaces, shows advantages in wear-resistant, reducing friction, bearing corrosion and enduring higher temperature. While for the coating material, it is important to improve the ability of the functional coating. In this paper, a coating material of wear-resistant, bearing corrosion and enduring higher temperature in middle and low speed diesel is studied quantificationally with a uniform prescription design method, which reduced the test period as the test points distribute uniformly. An optimized combination is put forward of each part in the coating and a method to develop a new coating material is supplied.

Research of precise pulse plasma arc powder welding technology of thin-walled inner hole parts

The inner hole parts played an oriented or supporting role in engineering machinery and equipment,which are prone to appear surface damages such as wear,strain and corrosion. The precise pulse plasma arc powder welding method is used for surface damage repairing of inner hole parts in this paper. The working principle and process of the technology are illustrated,and the microstructure and property of repairing layer by precise pulse plasma powder welding and CO2 gas shielded welding are tested and observed by microscope,micro hardness tester and X-ray residual stress tester etc. Results showed that the substrate deformation of thin-walled inner hole parts samples by precise pulse plasma powder welding is relatively small. The repair layer and substrate is metallurgical bonding,the transition zones( including fusion zone and heat affected zone) are relatively narrow and the welding quality is good. It showed that the thin-walled inner hole parts can be repaired by this technology and equipment.

Investigation on in-flight particle velocity in supersonic plasma spraying

In-flight particle velocity and flux distribution were measured using CCD thermal spray monitor system during supersonic plasma spray processing with nano-structured Al_2O_3-TiO_2 feed stocks. According to the results of particle flux measurement, the largest radian of the divergent particle stream is about 0.2. Within the measuring range, top speed of in-flight particles reached 800m/s. Particle acceleration was accomplished within 4cm down stream of the nozzle. Average particle velocity (about 450m/s) exceeded local sound speed (340m/s) even at a mean standoff distance of 17cm. With increasing mean standoff distance, average velocity of in-flight particle decreased according to a parabolic rule approximately. Image diagnosis showed that the result of in-flight particle velocity measurement is credible.

Characterization of NbSi_2–Al_2O_3 nanocomposite coatings prepared with plasma spraying mechanically alloyed powders

The present study characterized NbSi2-Al2O3 nanocomposite powders plasma-sprayed on Ti-6Al-4Vsubstrates. The powders were agglomerated to obtain suitable particle sizes for spraying. The agglomerated powders were then plasma-sprayed using atmospheric plasma spraying. The structural transformations of the powders along with the morphological and mechanical changes of the coatings were examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and hard- ness testing. The results showed that after plasma spraying, the grain size increased, and the lattice strain decreased. However, the grain size of this compound after spraying was still in the nanometer range. The coating was uniform and exhibited good adhesion to the substrate. The microhardness and fracture toughness of the nanocomposite coating were higher than those of a nanostructured NbSi2 coating.

Synthesis of NiCr_2O_4 spinel coatings with high emissivity by plasma spraying

Air plasma spraying （APS） was used to produce high emissivity coatings with a NiCr204 spinel structure. The relationship between the emissivity and the crystal structure was investigated. X-ray diffraction （XRD） analyses show that NiCr204 spinel has been fabri- cated with the space group Fd3m. Scanning electron microscope （SEM） photographs show that the coating consists of a laminated structure with homogeneous grains and high porosity because of the unique feature of plasma spraying. The emissivity measurement and Fourier transformation infrared radiation （FT-IR） spectra show that NiCr204 has a high emissivity of about 0.91 because of its special spinel structure APS is a suitable method to produce high emissivity coatings.

Finite element analysis of keyhole plasma arc welding based on an adaptive heat source mode

An adaptive heat source mode is proposed to account for the keyhole effect and the characteristics of volumetric distribution along the direction of the workpiece thickness. Finite element analysis of the temperature field in keyhole plasma arc welding is conducted and the weld geometry is obtained. The predicted results are in agreement with the measured ones.

CO_2 laser-micro plasma arc hybrid welding for galvanized steel sheets

A laser lap welding process for zinc-coated steel has a well-known unsolved problem-porosity formation. The boiling temperature of coated zinc is lower than the melting temperature of the base metal, which is steel. In the autogenous laser welding, the zinc vapor generates from the lapped surfaces expels the molten pool and the expulsion causes numerous weld defects, such as spatters and blow holes on the weld surface and porosity inside the welds. The laser-arc hybrid welding was suggested as an alternative method for the laser lap welding because the arc can preheat or post-beat the weldment according to the arrangement of the laser beam and the arc. CO2 laser-micro plasma hybrid welding was applied to the lap welding of zinc-coated steel with zero-gap. The relationships among the weld quality and process parameters of the laser-arc arrangement, and the laser-arc interspacing distance and arc current were investigated using a full-factorial experimental design. The effect of laser-arc arrangement is dominant because the leading plasma arc partially melts the upper steel sheets and vaporizes or oxidizes the coated zinc on the lapped surfaces. Compared with the result from the laser-TIG hybrid welding, the heat input from arc can be reduced by 40%.