Plasma spray deposition of graded metal-ceramic coatings

Plasma spraying of graded coatings is described and the metal-ceramic interface of the graded intermediate zone is analysed in terms of a simple physical model. Special attention is devoted to the dominant deposition parameters, powder characteristics and the injector configuration for powder feeding, which play a fundamental role in graded coating deposition with controlled formation of a metal-ceramic intermediate zone. On the basis of a knowledge of these parameters, a new and original formula for the coefficient of homogeneity for simultaneous deposition of metal and ceramic particles at the same spot on the substrate is derived. Furthermore, very interesting topotactical relations are described for the metal-ceramic interface of the graded zone. Various techniques of structural analysis (X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy) and simple thermodynamic calculations allow a new interpretation to be given of the bonding between the metal and ceramic components. The cohesion of graded metal-ceramic coatings is predicted to be higher than that of ceramic coatings with a metallic bond layer. The results are illustrated by a NiCr-ZrO2(MgO) graded coating.