Plasma spray processing of TiC-based coatings for sliding wear resistance
Authors:   , Mohanty Mahesh , Smith Ronald W. 
Published: July 2024

Titanium carbide-reinforced metallic coatings, produced by plasma spraying, can be used for sliding wear resistant applications. The sliding wear properties of such coatings are governed to a large extent by the strength, structure and stability of the bond interface between the carbide and the metallic phases. In the present investigation, the microstructure and sliding wear properties of plasma sprayed metal-bonded TiC coatings containing up to 90 v/o carbide have been studied. It was shown that alloying of the metallic phase improved carbide retention in TiC cermets due to better interface bonding, and increased wear resistance and lowered sliding coefficient of friction. TiC-based coatings were produced from both physically blended and synthesized feed powders. It was observed that the precursor TiC-based powder morphology and structure greatly affected the plasma sprayed coating microstructures and the resultant physical and mechanical characteristics. Physical blending of powders induced segregation during spraying, leading to somewhat lower deposit efficiencies and coating uniformity, while synthesized and alloyed titanium carbide/metal composite powders reduced problems of segregation and reactions associated with plasma spraying of physically blended powders where the TiC was in direct contact with the plasma jet. To understand oxidation effects of the environment, Ti and TiC-based coatings were produced under low pressure (VPS), air plasma (APS) and shrouded plasma sprayed conditions. APS Ti and TiC-based powders with reactive matrices suffered severe oxidation decomposition during flight, leading to poor deposition efficiencies and oxidized microstructures. High particle temperatures and cold air plasma spraying. Coating oxidation due to reactions of the particles with the surrounding air during spraying reduced coating hardness and wear resistance. TiC-with Ti or Ti-alloy matrix coatings with the highest hardness, density and wear resistance was achieved by spraying under vacuum plasma spray conditions. VPS coating microstructures of synthesized 40, 60 and 80 v/o TiC in Ti10Ni10Cr5Al and 80 v/o TiC in Fe30Cr alloy matrices exhibited fine and uniform distributions of spheroidal carbides. High volume fraction carbides were also obtained with no segregation effects. It was also shown that coatings produced from mechanically blended powders of 50, 70 and 90 vol. % TiC and commercially pure (C. P.) Ti, using low pressure plasma spray process (VPS), had densities >98% and were well bonded to steel, aluminum alloy or titanium alloy substrates. Reductions in jet oxygen contents by the use of an inert gas shroud enabled Ti and TiC-based coatings to be produced which were cleaner and denser than air plasma sprayed and comparable to vacuum plasma sprayed coatings. Direct oxygen concentration measurements in shrouded plasma jets made using an enthalpy probe and a gas analyzer also showed significant reductions in the entrainment of atmospheric oxygen. VPS and shrouded plasma spraying minimized carbide-matrix interface oxidation and improved coating wear resistance. The sliding wear resistance of synthesized coatings was very high and comparable with standard HVOF sprayed WC/Co and Cr3C2/NiCr coatings. Shrouded plasma spray deposits of Cr3C2/NiCr also performed much better than similar air plasma sprayed coatings, as result of reduced oxidation.