Selection of the thermal spray process is the most important step towards a proper coating solution for a given application as important coating characteristics such as adhesion, and microstructure, etc. are highly dependent on it. In the present work, a process-microstructure-properties-performance correlation study was performed in order to figure out the main characteristics and corrosion performance of the coatings produced by different thermal spray techniques such as high-velocity airfuel (HVAF), high-velocity oxy fuel (HVOF), and atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). Previously optimized HVOF and APS process parameters were used to deposit Ni, NiCr, and NiAl coatings and compare with HVAF-sprayed coatings with randomly selected process parameters. As the HVAF process presented the best coating characteristics and corrosion behavior, various process parameters,e.g., feed rate and stand off distance (SoD) were investigated to systematically optimize the HVAF coatings in terms of high density and corrosion properties. The coatings with lower porosity and better corrosion behavior were obtained at an average SoD of 300 mm for the Ni and NiAl coatings and a SoDof 250 mm for the NiCr coating. Increasing the feed rate to 150 g/min in the Ni and NiAl coatings decreased the coating pores and accordingly increased the Rp.

The formation of a protective chromia scale on stainless steels is known to be suppressed by the presence of water vapor in reducing conditions. Thermal spray coatings present a promising approach to improve the durability of steels by transferring the first line of oxidation attack from the bulk steel to the coating. In the present work, isothermal oxidation behavior of Ni and NiCr coatings deposited by High-Velocity Air Fuel (HVAF) process on 304L stainless steel was investigated at 600 degrees C for 168 h. Ar-10%H-2-20%H2O was selected as the oxidation environment to study the oxidation behavior of the coatings in a low pO(2) environment containing H2 and H2O. BIB/ SEM, EDS, and XRD techniques were used to characterize the as-sprayed coatings and to investigate the oxidation mechanisms in the coated samples. Results showed that both Ni and NiCr coatings imparted oxidation protection to the 304L substrate. The chromia-forming 304L steel presented a duplex but non-protective oxide scale comprising of an outer Fe3O4 layer on an inner (Fe, Cr)(3)O-4-spinel oxide. In contrast, the NiCr coating presented superior oxidation behavior due to the formation of a continuous, thin, and slow-growing Cr2O3 scale. The Ni coating, too, protected the substrate owing to limited nucleation and growth of the deleterious NiO scale in the low-oxygen -activity environment. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

KCl-induced high temperature corrosion behavior of four HVAF-sprayed Ni-based coatings (Ni21Cr, Ni5Al, Ni21Cr7Al1Y, and Ni21Cr9Mo) under KCl deposit has been investigated in ambient air at 600°C up to 168h. The coatings were deposited onto 16Mo3 steel - a widely used boiler tube material.Uncoated substrate, 304L and Sanicro25 were used as reference materials in the test environment.SEM/EDS and XRD techniques were utilized to characterize the as-sprayed and exposed samples.The results showed that the small addition of KCl significantly accelerated degradation to the coatings. All coatings provided better corrosion resistance compared to the reference materials. The alumina-forming Ni5Al coating under KCl deposit was capable of forming a more protective oxide scale compared to the chromia-forming coatings as penetration of Cl through diffusion paths was hindered. Both active corrosion and chromate formation mechanisms were found to be responsible for Page 1 of 23ASM the corrosion damages. The corrosion resistance of the coatings based on the microstructure analysis and kinetics had the following ranking (from the best to worst): Ni5Al >Ni21Cr> Ni21Cr7Al1Y>Ni21Cr9Mo.

Chlorine-induced corrosion of HVAF-sprayed Ni21Cr and Ni5Al coatings was investigated in 5 vol.% O2 + 500vppm HCl + N2 with and without KCl at 600 °C up to 168 h. Both coatings were protective in the absence of KCl. With KCl, Ni21Cr degraded through a two-stage mechanism: 1) formation of K2CrO4 followed by diffusion of Cl− through the oxide grain boundaries to yield chlorine and a non-protective oxide, and 2) inward diffusion of chlorine though defects in the non-protective oxide, leading to breakaway oxidation. Cl−/Cl2 could not diffuse through the protective alumina scale formed on Ni5Al, hence the corrosion resistance increased.

The oxidation performance of NiCrAlY and NiCrMo coatings thermally sprayed by high velocity air-fuel (HVAF) technique has been investigated in a chloridizing-oxidizing environment, with and without a KCl deposit, at 600 °C for up to 168 h. Both coatings protected the substrate in the absence of KCl due to formation of a dense Cr-rich oxide scale. In the presence of KCl, Cl−/Cl2 diffused through a non-protective and porous NiCr2O4 scale formed on NiCrAlY, leading to formation of volatile CrCl3. On the other hand, Mo in NiCrMo stimulated the formation of a more protective Cr-rich oxide scale which increased the corrosion resistance by reducing Cl−/Cl2 diffusion.