Improving microstructure and wear resistance of plasma clad Fe-based alloy coating by a mechanical vibration technique during cladding

A mechanical vibration technique was applied into plasma cladding process by vibrating substrate for improving the microstructure and wear resistance of Fe-based alloy coating. In this work, steel substrates were cladded with Fe-based alloy coatings under different cases of vibration frequency. It has been found that when the vibration frequency is located in 100 Hz, microstructure of the coating will be refined considerably; the solid solubility of solutes in supersaturated austenite γ-(Fe,Ni) can be increased; moreover, main phase constituents of the coating are unchanged; both microhardness and wear resistance of the coating can be largely promoted by mechanical vibration. Dispersion strengthening, grain refining strengthening and solution strengthening lead to these results.

Research highlights▶ Mechanical vibration can improve the performance of the plasma clad coatings. ▶ Mechanical vbiration cannot modify the main phase of the plasma clad coatings. ▶ Dispersion strengthening, grain refining strengthening and solution strengthening are the main possible strengthening mechanisms.