Effect of spraying condition on property of Zr-based metallic glass coating by gas tunnel type plasma spraying

Metallic glass has excellent functions such as high strength and high corrosion resistance. However, as metallic glass is expensive, a composite material is preferred for better cost performance. Thermal spraying is one of the potential candidates to produce such metallic glass composites. Gas tunnel type plasma spraying is useful in obtaining high quality ceramic coatings because it can easily control the condition of spraying powder. In this study, Zr-based metallic glass (Zr55-Cu30-Al10-Ni5) coatings were produced by gas tunnel type plasma spraying, and the effect of spraying conditions on the properties of Zr-based metallic glass coating was investigated. Dense Zr-based metallic glass coatings of more than 200 mu m in thickness were prepared with a Vickers hardness of about Hv = 550 at a plasma current of 250A, and the amorphous phase of this metallic glass coating appeared to remain in good condition. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.