Microstructure and Microhardness of Ni/Al-TiB2 Composite Coatings Prepared by Cold Spraying Combined with Postannealing Treatment

Ni/Al-TiB2 composite powders were deposited on the surface of 316L stainless-steel substrates by cold spraying at gas temperatures of 250 and 450 °C, respectively. Then, the as-sprayed coatings were annealed at 650 °C for 10, 20, and 30 h. The experimental results showed that the average porosity of as-sprayed coating dropped from about 0.68% to 0.054% as the cold spraying gas temperature increased. The contents of Ni, Al, and TiB2 in the as-sprayed coatings were different from that of the Ni/Al-TiB2 composite powders. The main phase compositions of the as-sprayed Ni/Al-TiB2 coatings were the same as those of composite powder, consisting only of pure Ni, Al, and TiB2 phases. TiB2 as a reinforced particle in the as-sprayed coating could obviously increase the microhardness of the coatings. NiAl3 and Ni2Al3 intermetallic compounds were synthesized in situ in all of the annealed coatings, and the average contents of NiAl3 and Ni2Al3 intermetallic compounds increased as the cold spraying gas temperature increased. The distribution of TiB2 particle was changed as the annealing times increased, which changed from more comparative uniform distribution to accumulation. The average porosity of the annealed coatings increased as the annealing time increased. The microhardness of Ni/Al-TiB2 coatings annealed at 650 °C for 10 h was increased remarkably due to the reinforcement role of TiB2 particles and NiAl3 and Ni2Al3 intermetallic compounds.