The Effect of Cr3C2 on Microstructure and Hardness of Cu5Al Plasma Sprayed Coatings

Abstract

Plasma spraying is a method mostly used to improve surface properties of materials. In this study, Cu + 5% Al/Cr3C2 powders were coated on the surface of Cu alloy by using the atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) method. The effect of Cr3C2 on microstructure and hardness was examined in four different coatings. For this aim, microstructure images of the coated layers were taken in optical microscope, their SEM, EDX and XRD analyses were performed, and their microhardness values were measured. It was observed that a lamellar structure occurred in the coatings containing Cu + 5% Al/Cr3C2. The microhardness decreased by adding of Cr3C2. The coating without Cr3C2 showed higher microhardness values than the containing Cr3C2, and depending on the increase of Cr3C2 amount (5, 10, 20 wt.%), the microhardness value increased.