Enhancing interfacial bonding of oxide ceramic particles/high manganese steel-based composites by NiCr alloy coating

In this research, the effect of the NiCr coating on the interfacial bonding of the ZrO2-Al2O3 ceramic particles (ZTA(P)) reinforced high manganese steel-based composites (ZTA(P)/HMS composites) was investigated. The bare ZTA(P) and NiCr coated ZTA(P) reinforced HMS composites were prepared by casting infiltration method. The interfacial layer between bare ZTA(P) ceramic and high manganese steel matrix existed an unsatisfactory bonding, including numerous cracks and holes. A continuous and dense NiCr alloy coating was deposited on the ZTA(P) ceramics surface utilizing the high-vacuum multi-arc ion plating. The reaction diffusion of the NiCr alloy in the interfacial layer between ZTA ceramic and high manganese steel matrix caused the metallic transition layer and silicate layer, which further testified the transformation from mechanical bonding to metallurgical bonding.