Investigating the effect of temperature and time of fusing process on the microstructure and wear performance of plasma sprayed NiCrBSi coatings

In this work, self-fluxing NiCrBSi coatings were deposited by plasma spraying. Simultaneous effect of temperature and time of the fusing heat treatment on microstructure, surface roughness and microhardness as well as wear performance of these coatings was evaluated. Fusing process was carried out at 1000, 1050 and 1100˚C for 5, 15 and 25 min. The morphologies and microstructures of the coatings as well as the wear tracks were characterized using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. X-Ray Diffraction was applied to determine the phase composition of coatings. Wear performance of the fused coatings was investigated by Pin-On-Disk test. In consequence of the fusing process, the thickness, porosity and surface roughness decreased, the splat boundaries were eliminated, the microhardness increased, a metallurgical bond was created between the coating and the substrate, and hard carbide and boride precipitates (CrB and Cr7C3) were formed. Exceeding the optimum parameters of the fusing caused over-fusing phenomenon and thereby, degradation of coating properties. It was found that the temperature of 1000˚C and the time of 5 min are the optimum conditions of fusing process in this study, as the lowest porosity, the highest microhardness as well as the best wear performance were obtained in coating fused at these parameters. Dominant wear mechanism in this sample was abrasive wear.