Development and Investigation of SiC-based Thermal Spray Powders with Alumina-Yttria Binder Matrix

Abstract

The combination of excellent mechanical, thermal and chemical properties of silicon carbide (SiC) and titanium carbide (TiC) has made these materials very attractive both for structural ceramics applications and for thermal sprayed coatings. To suppress oxidation and to avoid the formation of silicides during spraying of SiC-based composites, feedstock spray powders have been developed containing 32 wt.-% of an alumina-yttrium ceramic binder matrix. The spray powders are prepared by spray-drying and sintering (a&s). Also, TiC-based composite spray powders showing the same matrix material and content have been developed and produced. Thermal spray processing of the described powders by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) using an F6 APS torch and high velocity oxygen fuel spraying (HVOF) with the Top Gun G acetylene torch is carried out. Both the produced coatings and feedstock powder are characterized by optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) including energy dispersive X-ray analyses (EDXS).