Detonation Deposited Fe-Al Coatings Part I: Morphology of Ni(Al) and Cr(Ni) Transition Layers and Coatings of Fe-Al Type Sprayed onto Carbon Steel Substrate

The microstructure of transition layers of Ni(Al) - pure Ni with Al and NiAl particles as well as Cr(Ni) - pure Cr in the Ni matrix, occurred between the coating of Fe-Al type intermetallic phases and the 045 carbon steel substrate was analysed in the present work. The investigations were aimed at the adherence of transition layers and the outer coating deposited with the detonation-gas spraying. The structure was examined using the methods of scanning (SEM) and transmission electron (TEM) microscopies as well as the analysis of chemical composition in microareas (EDS). Silica grains at the boundary of the substrate and the layer of Ni(Al), aluminium oxide at the boundary and inside the Ni(Al) layers, an Al based AlNiO× phase, columnar crystals at the boundary of the coating of Fe-Al type phases and an adjacent Cr(Ni) layer were observed. The results were discussed in reference to earlier examinations of bending strength considering cracking and delamination of the coating off the substrate. They were then compared with the state of the boundary between the coating and the steel substrate analysed in former works. It seems, that the substrate boundary free from silica inclusions and the prevention of the formation of aluminium oxides at the boundary of transition layers and the substrate should improve the adherence of the whole multi layer and the coating.