Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of ultrasonic assisted laser clad yttria stabilized zirconia coating

Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) Coatings were fabricated on a titanium alloy substrate by ultrasonic assisted laser cladding technique and the effect of ultrasonic vibration on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties was investigated. Experimental results indicated that with the increase of ultrasonic output power, the clad depth increased, the wettability between coating and substrate was improved, the size of equiaxed grains in the cladding zone decreased, and the band structures were broken up gradually. Simultaneously, the element content distribution along the thickness of coating in the transition region changed from exponential to linear distribution gradually, together with the increase of dilution rate. With the increase of ultrasonic output power, the microhardness distribution of fusion zone also converted from an exponential to a linear distribution. Additionally, the friction and wear tests showed that the wear mechanism of coatings both with and without ultrasonic vibration was abrasive wear while the friction coefficients of coating with ultrasonic vibration were lower than that without ultrasonic vibration, which was related to the refined microstructures within the YSZ coatings.