High Temperature Erosion-oxidation Resistance of Thermally Sprayed Nanostructured Cr3C2-25(Ni-20Cr) Coatings

This study reports the high temperature erosion-oxidation (E-O) behavior of conventional and nanostructured Cr3C2-25(Ni-20Cr) coatings prepared by high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying. As-received and nanostructured Cr3C2-25(Ni-20Cr) powders with mean crystallite sizes of 145 nm and 50 nm respectively, were used to prepare 120-200 mu m thick coatings on AISI 310 samples. The E-O behavior of the coatings prepared with the as-received (AR) and nanostructured (NS) powders was determined as weight change in a custom designed rig at room temperature, 450, 700 and 800 degrees C. The Vickers microhardness, Young's Modulus and fracture toughness of the AR and NS coatings were determined, and the NS coatings exhibited higher values compared with the AR coatings. The E-O resistance of the NS coating was higher than that of AR coating at all temperatures, and particularly at 800 degrees C. The increase in E-O resistance of the NS coatings is due to its superior mechanical properties as well as to the presence of some heterogeneities in the AR coatings. The E-O mechanisms of both types of the coatings are discussed, with special attention to that at high temperatures. The results suggest that at 800 degrees C the E-O process is controlled by erosion of the oxide.