Effects of cerium on microstructure and bonding strength of Cu-14Al-4.5Fe bronze plasma sprayed coating

Cu-14Al-4.5Fe bronze powders with and without 0.6% Ce were prepared and their coatings were fabricated on 45# carbon steel substrate by atmospheric plasma spraying. The effects of rare earth Ce on the coating interface bonding strength, coatings and bonding interface vertical sections microstructure were investigated by tensile machine, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electronic probe microanalysis (EPMA). The results showed that the shape of powders was more spherical like, and the coating's hardness and interface bonging tensile strength would be improved to 8.9% and 17.4%, respectively, higher than that of the Cu-14Al-4.5Fe coating without 0.6% Ce added. The refined of κ phases, well distributed matrix phases in coatings and the promotion of Fe, Al elements diffusion led to the improvement in interface bonding strength and hardness of the Cu-14Al-4.5Fe coating with addition of 0.6% Ce, which hardened and strengthened the coating.