EFFECT OF GAS PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE ON STEREOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF Al+Al2O3 COMPOSITE COATINGS DEPOSITED BY LPCS METHOD

The paper deals with effect of working gas pressure and temperature on surface stereometry of coatings deposited by low-pressure cold spray method. Examinations were focused on aluminium coatings which are commonly used to protect substrate against corrosion. A commercial Al spherical feedstock powder with admixture of Al2O3 (Al + 60wt.-% Al2O3), granulation -50 + 10 mu m, was used to coat steel, grade S235JR. The deposited coatings were studied to determine their stereometry, i.e. roughness, transverse and longitudinal waviness, topography of surface and thickness as the functions of gas pressure and temperature. A profilometer and focal microscope were used to evaluate the stereometric properties. In order to reduce the number of variables, the remaining process parameters, i.e. shape and size of de Laval nozzle, nozzle-to-substrate distance, powder mass flow rate, linear velocity of spraying gun, were kept unchanged. The investigation confirmed influence of temperature and pressure on coating thickness as well as on the surface seterometry.