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preparation of thermal
spray coatings Application
Notes
Thermal spraying was invented in the
early 1900s using zinc for „metallizing”
substrates for corrosion protection. The
development of the plasma spray gun in
the late 50s and 60s made it commercially
viable to use high temperature materials
such as ceramics and refractory metals
for coating materials. In addition to flame
and plasma spraying, today thermal spray
methods include high velocity and detona-
tion spraying using a multitude of different
spray materials for the most diverse and
demanding applications.
Crack between a plasma spray coating 500x Fig.1: Ceramic spray coating, 200x Fig. 2: Same coating as Fig.1, 200x
and the substrate. The crack originates insufficiently polished polished correctly
from cutting
piece they mechanically lock onto the sur- of the use of compressed air the arc FeCrSiNi and Mn
face, deform and cool rapidly. The bonding sprayed coatings have a higher percentage
of single particles is through mechanical of oxides (Fig. 4). the workpiece with extremely high kinetic
interlocking, or in some cases metallurgical The advantage of arc wire spraying is its energy. These coatings have an excel-
bonding or diffusion. High velocity of the high deposition rate which makes it suit- lent density, integrity and adhesion to the
particles leads to better bonding and higher able for large areas or high volume produc- substrate. Due to the process conditions
density of the coating. For good adhesion tion applications: spraying of large struc- this method is limited to the application of
to the substrate it is essential that the tures like bridges and off-shore structures carbide coatings, mainly in the aerospace
surface is roughened by sandblasting and with corrosion resistant zinc or aluminium and aviation industry for wear-resistant
thoroughly degreased and cleaned before coatings, reclamation of engineering com- coatings.
spraying. ponents and spraying of electronic compo-
The various spraying techniques display nent housing with conductive coatings of In High Velocity Oxy-Fuel Combustion
different temperatures at the heat source copper or aluminium. spraying (HVOF) fuel gas and oxygen are
and different particle velocities, which, fed into a chamber in which combustion
together with the economical aspect, need For Detonation spraying small amounts of produces a supersonic flame, which is
to be taken into consideration for specific carbide powder, fuel gas and oxygen are forced down a nozzle increasing its veloc-
applications. In the following the main introduced in a closed tube and exploded. ity. Powder of coating material is fed into
spraying techniques are briefly described The detonation ejects the powder with this stream and the extreme velocity of the
and some of the most well-known applica- multiple sonic speed and shoots it onto particles when hitting the substrate creates
tions of the resulting coatings mentioned:
Principle of layer formation
Flame spraying is the oldest method of ap-
plying thermal spray coatings. The coating
material is either wire or powder, which
is fed into an oxygen-fuel gas flame. The
molten and atomized particles are ejected
in a directed stream through the spraying
gun nozzle. Due to the relatively low particle
velocity the oxygen exposure is increased
Flying drops of molten Impact on substrate Heat dissipation to Solidification and shrinking
coating material substrate of coating material
Difficulties in
the preparation
of thermal spray
coatings
Fig. 5:
HVOF coating of
WC/12Co
a very dense, strong coating (Fig. 5). The Cutting: Clamping of spray coated work-
very high kinetic energy of the particles pieces for sectioning can introduce cracks
when striking the substrate ensures an in brittle coatings or compress very soft
adequate mechanical bond even without coatings.
the particles being fully molten. This makes
this spraying method particularly well-sui-
ted for spraying of coatings with carbides.
Typical applications are tungsten carbide
coatings on air engine turbine components
Combustion chamber with APS thermal barrier coating,
and valves, and nickel-chromium coatings bond coat NiCrAlY, topcoat ZrO² + Y² O³
for oxidation resistance.
Coating material
Current
250 - 1000 A
correctly, can introduce artefacts which are When cutting pieces other than test cou-
not part of the coating structure. For exam- pons, for instance samples for failure
ple, in metal or metal/ceramic coatings, the analysis, it is important to ensure that the
softer metal is smeared into pores during workpiece is clamped into the cut-off ma-
grinding and if not polished properly can chine in such a way that the cut-off wheel
cover up the true porosity (see Figs. a-c). is cutting into the coating towards the
In comparison, ceramic coatings are brit- substrate, and not from the substrate into
tle and particles break out of the surface the coating. As the bond of the coating is
during grinding. If not polished thoroughly, mainly mechanical, it can delaminate from
b) Same coating as in a) polished with 3 µm these break-outs leave an incorrect impres- the substrate due to the drag of the cut-off
sion of a high porosity (see Figs. d-f). wheel.
Cutting: Selection of the cut-off wheel is Mounting: Cold mounting with epoxy resin
based on the substrate material, which (ProntoFix , EpoFix, CaldoFix-2) is recom-
is usually metallic. A wheel with a looser mended as spray coatings are very easily
d) Ceramic spray coating after fine grinding bond (soft) is preferable to a denser bond damaged during hot compression mount-
(hard) as brittle particles of the coating ing (Figs. 9 and 10).
are dragged out by a hard cut-off wheel. In general, vacuum impregnation is rec-
This is particularly ommended for all
important when coatings. The depth
cutting parts with of impregnation var-
ceramic coatings. ies with the degree
Even if the coat- of open porosity and
ing is ceramic, it interconnections be-
constitutes only a tween the pores. Very
small percentage of the total cross section- porous coatings can be easier impregnated
e) Same coating as in d) polished with 3 µm al area and does not need to be cut with a than denser ones, and coatings with less
diamond cut-off wheel. Usually sectioning than 10% porosity can not be impreg-
is possible with a soft aluminium oxide nated successfully. As it can be difficult to
wheel. If the ceramic coating is very thick distinguish voids filled with transparent
and dense a resin-bonded diamond cut-off or translucent mounting resins from the
wheel can be used as an alternative. structural elements of the coating, it helps
to mix a fluorescent dye (Epodye) into the
A thin piece of styrofoam between clamps cold mounting resin. Viewed with a long
and sample can help to protect brittle and pass blue filter and a short pass orange
very soft coatings from being damaged. filter in the microscope, the fluorescent dye
Step PG FG
NORWAY
BELGIUM (Wallonie) Struers ApS, Norge
Vacuum sprayed coatings on nickel and Struers S.A.S. Sjøskogenveien 44C
370, rue du Marché Rollay 1407 Vinterbro
cobalt based superalloys can be etched F- 94507 Champigny Telefon +47 970 94 285
sur Marne Cedex info@struers.no
with the same solutions used for the sub- Téléphone +33 1 5509 1430
Télécopie +33 1 5509 1449 AUSTRIA
strate, or electrolytically with 10% aqueous SEM photomicrograph of thermally sprayed surface struers@struers.fr Struers GmbH
Zweigniederlassung Österreich
oxalic acid. of acetabular cup shell BELGIUM (Flanders) Betriebsgebiet Puch Nord 8
Struers GmbH Nederland 5412 Puch
The structure of coatings containing mo- Zomerdijk 34 A Telefon +43 6245 70567
3143 CT Maassluis Fax +43 6245 70567-78
lybdenum can be revealed by using the and that the diamond polish needs to be Telefoon +31 (10) 599 7209 austria@struers.de
Fax +31 (10) 5997201
following etchant: long enough to reveal the true porosity. netherlands@struers.de POLAND
Struers Sp. z o.o.
50 ml water CANADA
Struers Ltd.
Oddział w Polsce
ul. Jasnogórska 44
50 ml hydrogen peroxide (3%) The recommended preparation procedure 7275 West Credit Avenue 31-358 Kraków
50 ml ammonia is based on experience and gives excel- Mississauga, Ontario L5N 5M9
Phone +1 905-814-8855
Phone +48 12 661 20 60
Fax +48 12 626 01 46
lent results for the majority of common Fax +1 905-814-1440
info@struers.com
poland@struers.de
Caution: Always follow the recommended thermal spray coatings. However, it should ROMANIA
CHINA Struers GmbH, Sucursala
safety precautions when working with be noted that for some specific proprietary Struers Ltd. Bucuresti
No. 1696 Zhang Heng Road Str. Preciziei nr. 6R
chemical reagents. coatings the polishing times may need to Zhang Jiang Hi-Tech Park 062203 sector 6, Bucuresti
Shanghai 201203, P.R. China Phone +40 (31) 101 9548
be adjusted. Phone +86 (21) 6035 3900
Fax +86 (21) 6035 3999
Fax +40 (31) 101 9549
romania@struers.de
Summary struers@struers.cn
SWITZERLAND
Thermal spray coatings are widely used to CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA Struers GmbH
Application Notes Struers GmbH Organizační složka Zweigniederlassung Schweiz
give or improve a specific surface quality Metallographic preparation of thermal spray coatings vědeckotechnický park Weissenbrunnenstraße 41
Přílepská 1920, CH-8903 Birmensdorf
or function to a workpiece. Different spray- Elisabeth Weidmann, Anne Guesnier, Struers A/S, CZ-252 63 Roztoky u Prahy Telefon +41 44 777 63 07
Phone +420 233 312 625 Fax +41 44 777 63 09
ing methods result in different character- Copenhagen, Denmark
Fax +420 233 312 640 switzerland@struers.de
Brigitte Duclos, Struers S.A.S., Champigny, France czechrepublic@struers.de
istics of the coatings, and they are mainly slovakia@struers.de SINGAPORE
Acknowledgement
applied for corrosion, heat and wear resist- We wish to thank Sulzer Metco AG, Wohlen, Switzerland, GERMANY
Struers Singapore
627A Aljunied Road,
ance. Metallographic examination of spray for its cooperation and supplying information material. Struers GmbH
Carl-Friedrich-Benz-Straße 5
#07-08 BizTech Centre
Singapore 389842
coatings includes estimation of porosity, Special thanks go to J. Hochstrasser and P. Ambühl for D- 47877 Willich Phone +65 6299 2268
sharing their extensive knowledge with us and supplying Telefon +49 (0) 2154 486-0 Fax +65 6299 2661
oxides and unmelted particles as well as the following images for reproduction: photo of spraying
Fax +49 (0) 2154 486-222
verkauf@struers.de
struers.sg@struers.dk
adhesion to the substrate. Because incor- process and large micrograph on page 1; drawing: SPAIN
Principle of particle movement, photo synchronising FRANCE Struers España
rect grinding and polishing procedures can rings and micrographs on page 2; drawing, photo
Struers S.A.S. Camino Cerro de los Gamos 1
370, rue du Marché Rollay Building 1 - Pozuelo de Alarcón
influence the evaluation of the true porosity combustion chamber and all micrographs on page 3 and F-94507 Champigny CP 28224 Madrid
micrograph of nickel flame sprayed coating on page 4. sur Marne Cedex Teléfono +34 917 901 204
it is very important that metallographic Téléphone +33 1 5509 1430 Fax +34 917 901 112
We thank Richard Compton, Zimmer, Inc. USA, for Télécopie +33 1 5509 1449 struers.es@struers.es
preparation is carried out systemati- the photo of the acetabular cup shell and the SEM struers@struers.fr
FINLAND
cally and that the results are reproducible. photomicrograph on page 6. HUNGARY Struers ApS, Suomi
Struers GmbH Hietalahdenranta 13
Precision cutting with the correct cut-off Bibliography Magyarországi Fióktelepe 00180 Helsinki
Metallographic preparation of thermally sprayed 2040 Budaörs Puhelin +358 (0)207 919 430
wheel is recommended to avoid cracks in orthopaedic devices, Richard C. Compton, Zimmer, Inc., Szabadság utca 117 Faksi +358 (0)207 919 431
Phone +36 2380 6090 finland@struers.fi
the coating. Mounting should follow with USA, Structure 28, 1995 Fax +36 2380 6091
Summary Report of the Plasma Spray Coatings Email: hungary@struers.de SWEDEN
epoxy. Coarse grinding introduces the Struers Sverige
Symposium at Struers, Copenhagen, May 25th to 27th,
most damage to the coating and should 1988
IRELAND
Struers Ltd.
Box 20038
161 02 Bromma
therefore be carried out with the finest grit Universal metallographic procedure for thermal spray Unit 11 Evolution@ AMP
Whittle Way, Catcliffe
Telefon +46 (0)8 447 53 90
Telefax +46 (0)8 447 53 99
coatings, S. D. Glancy, Structure 29, 1996
possible. To avoid relief fine grinding with Materialographic characterization of modern multilayer
Rotherham S60 5BL
Tel. +44 0845 604 6664
info@struers.se
diamond on a rigid disc is recommended, coating systems used for hot-gas components in large Fax +44 0845 604 6651
info@struers.co.uk
UNITED KINGDOM
Struers Ltd.
gas turbines for static power generation, A. Neidel,
followed by a thorough diamond polish on S. Riesenbeck, T. Ulrich, J. Völker, Chunming Yao, ITALY
Unit 11 Evolution @ AMP
Whittle Way, Catcliffe
a silk cloth. Siemens Power Generation, Berlin, Structure 2/2004 Struers Italia
Via Monte Grappa 80/4
Rotherham S60 5BL
Tel. +44 0845 604 6664
20020 Arese (MI) Fax +44 0845 604 6651
It is particularly important to be aware that Tel. +39-02/38236281 info@struers.co.uk
Fax +39-02/38236274
metal coatings behave differently to cera- struers.it@struers.it USA
Struers Inc.
mic coatings under mechanical abrasion JAPAN 24766 Detroit Road
Marumoto Struers K.K Westlake, OH 44145-1598
Takanawa Muse Bldg. 1F Phone +1 440 871 0071
3-14-13 Higashi-Gotanda, Fax +1 440 871 8188
Shinagawa info@struers.com
Tokyo
141-0022 Japan
Phone +81 3 5488 6207
Fax +81 3 5488 6237
struers@struers.co.jp 28.02.2019 / 62142005