This paper presents a comparative study on the Ti2AlC coatings produced by different thermal spray methods, as Ti2AlC is one of the most studied materials from the MAX-phase family. Microstructural analysis of coatings produced by High Velocity Air Fuel (HVAF), Cold Spray and High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) has been carried out by means of the scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The volume fraction of porosity was determined using the ASTM standard E562. The phase characterization of the as-received powder and as-sprayed coatings was conducted using the X-ray diffraction with CrKα radiation. Impact of the spray parameters on the porosity and the mechanical properties of the coatings are discussed. The results show that the spraying temperature and velocity play a crucial role in coatings characteristics. © 2017, Allerton Press, Inc.

In this article a numerical model to describe the mechanical behaviour of nanophased singlecrystalline Ti₃SiC₂ is proposed. The approach is a two dimensional finite element periodic unit cell consisting of an elastic matrix interlayered with shear deformable slip planes which obey the Hill's yield criterion. The periodic unit cell is used to predict compression material behaviour of Ti₃SiC₂ crystals with arbitrary slip plane orientations. Stress strain relationships are derived for Ti ₃SiC₂, and the effect of slip plane volume fraction as well as orientation of the slip planes are investigated. The two main deformation mechanisms of the material namely; ordinary slip and so called kinking are considered in the study.

Elastic-plastic material properties for HVOF sprayed Ti2AlC (sprayed with Maxthal 211 powder) and plasma sprayed NiCoCrAlY coatings were investigated using modeling and experimental Berkovich microindentation. Optical microstructure evaluations were also performed. The theories of Hertz, Oliver and Pharr were combined with finite element analysis for extracting the material properties. Empirically based material models for both thermal sprayed Ti2AlC and NiCoCrAlY coatings are proposed.