Investigations on the Performance Characteristics of Carbon Nano-tubes, Alumina and Titanium Dioxide Based Plasma Sprayed Coatings on AISI 1020 Steel

The current study deals with the investigation on the performance characteristics of varying composition of coating mixture comprising carbon nano-tube, alumina and titanium dioxide on the thermal spray coating on mild steel. The performance properties, namely tensile and microhardness, were measured for the varying composition of coating mixture based thermal coating on mild steel. Response surface methodology was adopted to access the interdependencies prevailing between various dependent and independent parameters, namely composition of the mixture, tensile and microhardness. Scanning Electron Microscope coupled with elemental mapping were used to show the melting zones features and composition. The experimental results and response graphs indicated that increased weight percentages of carbon nano-tube and TiO 2 with an optimal value of alumina at 87.5 percent of total weight showed better performance properties due to better dispersion leading to good bonding suitable for protective coatings. Scanning Electron Microscope images reveal partially melted zones that were restricted to smaller regions, and all particles tend to solidify beginning with a fully molten phase.