Study on Reactive Atmospheric Plasma-Sprayed In situ Titanium Compound Composite Coating

A titanium composite coating containing in situ synthesized oxides or nitrides was deposited on mild steel by reactive atmospheric plasma spraying. The relationships between the porosity, hardness, the phase composition of the sprayed coatings, and the spraying parameters were investigated. Titanium powders were used as starting powder materials. XRD analysis and microhardness test revealed that titanium oxides and nitrides were synthesized during the spraying process. The longer the spraying distance, the more the Ti nitrides’ content in the coating. It is shown that the Ti nitrides’ content has a significant influence on coating hardness. An in situ titanium composite coating with a hardness value of 1534HV 0.1 and an adhesive strength of 55.4 MPa was made with appropriate spraying parameters.