Effect of multi-arc current on the microstructure and properties of TiAlSiN coating on zircaloy-4 alloy

Abstract

TiAlSiN coatings are deposited on zircaloy-4 by multi-arc ion plating at 50 A, 60 A and 70 A, respectively. The macro-morphology, micro-morphology, chemical composition and phases of the prepared coatings are observed and analyzed, and the high temperature oxidation behavior and adhesion strength of coatings are tested. The results demonstrate that the quantity of large particles on TiAlSiN coating increases gradually as the arc current increases, the coating becomes denser and denser with the porosity decreases gradually, and the content of Al elements in the coating increases gradually with the increase of multi-arc current. The phases of TiAlSiN coatings deposited at different multi-arc currents before oxidation mainly includes Ti3AlN, AlN, Ti2N. Meanwhile, the high temperature oxidation behavior of the coating is also improved gradually and the adhesion strength increases first and then decreases. When the arc current is 60 A, the adhesion strength is up to 23 N which is relatively large. The coatings deposited at 70 A shows the best high temperature oxidation resistance behavior, mainly due to the generation of a large amount of Al2O3 oxide in the coating after oxidation.

Keywords

• TiAlSiN coating
• Arc current
• High temperature oxidation behavior
• Adhesion strength
• Surface morphology
• Zircaloy-4