Microstructure and mechanical properties of B4C reinforced Al-based matrix composite coatings deposited by CGDS and PGDS processes

Coatings of a composite material consisting of an Al–12Si matrix reinforced with 20 wt.% B4C particles were produced using Cold Gas Dynamic Spray (CGDS) and Pulsed Gas Dynamic Spray (PGDS) processes onto Al-6061 and SS-316L substrates. Two types of composite feedstock powders (mechanically mixed and cryomilled) were used. The influence of the coating process as well as the nature of the feedstock material on the coating microstructure and mechanical properties was studied. The combination of cryomilling to synthesize the feedstock powder and the spray processes provides a unique opportunity to produce hard and dense composite coatings with good cohesion between the deformed particles and good adhesion to the substrate, no phase degradation, very low compressive stresses and high dry sliding wear resistance. The two spray processes have shown almost similar results regarding microstructure and mechanical properties. No effect of the substrate material, Al-6061 and SS-316L, on the coating microstructure and properties was observed.