Characterization of Low-Pressure Cold-Sprayed Aluminum Coatings

Aluminum alloys are widely used as materials for engineering components of automobiles and airplanes because of their light weight and high corrosion resistance. However, cracks may develop sometimes in aluminum components, which have to be repaired by welding. It is difficult to weld aluminum components due to its high specific thermal conductivity and high coefficient of thermal expansion. The low-pressure cold-spray technique can be used instead of welding for repairing cracks. However, the effects of surface conditions on particle deposition and the mechanical properties of cold-sprayed coatings have not been investigated thus far. In this study, the effect of surface conditions focusing on active newly formed surface on aluminum particle deposition is studied and the mechanical properties of low-pressure cold-sprayed aluminum coatings are investigated by four-point bending tests. It is found that for efficient particle deposition it was necessary to obtain active newly formed surface of the substrate and particle surfaces by several impingements because the existence of inactive native oxide films has an adverse effect on the deposition. Furthermore, the strength of a cold-sprayed specimen is found to be higher than that of a cold-rolled specimen under compressive loading.