Cavitation resistance of FeMnCrSi coatings processed by different thermal spray processes

Cavitation-resistant FeMnCrSi coatings were developed in the past years as a cost-effective alternative to Co-containing alloys to increase the lifespan of hydraulic machinery. The effect of different chemical compositions, surface finishing, and post-processing treatments was investigated for various processing techniques, namely: Arc Spraying Process (ASP), High-Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF), High-Velocity Air-Fuel (HVAF), Plasma Transferred Arc (PTA), and Cold Gas Spray (CGS). This works consists of a compilation and review of original and literature results, and discusses the microstructure changes imparted by each type of processing and their impact on the coating properties and cavitation resistance. Low heat input high-velocity processes (HVOF, HVAF, CGS) developed a reduced degree of oxidation and porosity, accounting for a cavitation resistance higher than that of the coatings that ASP processed. In addition, ASP coatings showed reduced cohesive strength, with the oxidized inter-splat interface being a preferential site for crack propagation.