Analysis of the Metallurgical Bonding between Inconel and NiCrAlY Coatings by HVOF and with CO2</sub> Laser Beam

Abstract

Coatings are applied on turbine blades’ surfaces to provide protection not only against high temperature but also against aggressive environment. Ceramic coatings are employed to avoid metallic substrate overheating, while at the same time increasing turbine work temperature and performance. A bond coat (BC) base of particulate material based on Ni-Al powders is necessary to assure oxidation protection, a good adhesion and gradual decrease in thermal expansion coefficient between the blades’ metallic substrate and the ceramic top coating. One of the most important parameters of such coatings is the adhesion strength. In this work, a NiCrAlY bond coat was deposited on Inconel 625 substrate employing High-Velocity Oxygen-Fuel (HVOF) thermal spraying technology and CO2 laser beam irradiation to enhance coating–substrate adherence and metallurgical bonding. Microstructural features were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction and microhardness analysis. The results indicate that the laser treatment provided an efficient metallurgical bond between the (BC) and Inconel 625 substrate.