Microstructure and properties of TiN/Ni composite coating prepared by plasma transferred arc scanning process

The TiN/Ni composite coatings were deposited on 7005 aluminium alloy by high speed jet electroplating and then processed with plasma transferred arc(PTA) scanning process. The microstructure, microhardness and friction coefficient of PTA scanning treated specimens were investigated. It is shown that the PTA scanning treated specimens have a rapidly solidified microstructure consisting of the uniformly distributed TiN phase and fine Al3Ni2 intermetallic phases. The composite coating has an average microhardness of approximately HV 800. The friction coefficient of PTA scanning treated specimens (oscillated at around 0.25) is considerably lower than that of TiN/Ni composite coating (oscillated at around 0.35). The corrosion behavior of the composite coating in 3.5% NaCl solution at room temperature was also determined using a potentiostat system. In comparison with the corrosion potential ϕcorr of −0.753 V for 7005 aluminium alloy, the corrosion potentials for TiN/Ti composite coating and PTA scanning treated specimen are increased by 0.148 V and 0.305 V, respectively. The PTA scanning treated specimen has the lowest corrosion current densityJcorr as well as the highest corrosion potential ϕcorr, showing an improved corrosion resistance compared with 7005 aluminium alloy.