Author:Juan Kong, ChungenZhou, Shengkai Gong, Huibin Xu

Institute: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing 100083, PR China

Quasi-crystalline Al-Cu-Fe-Cr coatings produced using low-pressure plasma spraying are a promising method for protecting titanium-based alloys from oxidation processes. These coatings have a unique structure that provides high oxidation resistance due to their complex quasi-crystalline matrix. Unlike traditional coatings, such quasi-crystalline materials demonstrate outstanding mechanical properties and thermal stability.

The oxidation behavior of titanium in PST-based alloys with the addition of Al–Cu–Fe–Cr was studied at high temperatures using the low-pressure plasma spraying (LPPS) method. The experimental results demonstrated that the quasi-crystalline Al–Cu–Fe–Cr coating significantly improved the oxidation resistance of titanium-containing alloys. At temperatures of 750 and 800 °C, the mass increase for the quasi-crystalline Al–Cu–Fe–Cr coating was insignificant, and the oxidation kinetics corresponded to the parabolic law. No noticeable peeling of the coating from the substrate was observed during the oxidation process. The oxide formed on the surface of the quasi-crystalline Al–Cu–Fe–Cr coating after exposure to oxidizing conditions consisted of Al2O3.

The low-pressure plasma spraying process allows for uniform distribution of the coating over the surface, which guarantees protection even in hard-to-reach places. Experiments have shown that the combination of Al, Cu, Fe and Cr elements contributes to the formation of a strong protective film that can effectively prevent the diffusion of oxygen and other oxidizers.

The use of quasi-crystalline coatings based on Al-Cu-Fe-Cr results in a significant increase in the performance characteristics of titanium alloys under extreme conditions, which opens up new horizons for their use in the aerospace and automotive industries.