NEW COATING TECHNIQUE FOR Al–В₄С COMPOSITE COATINGS BY MECHANICAL MILLING AND COMPOSITE COATING

Abstract

Mechanical milling (MM) process as a novel technique for producing Al–В₄С composite coatings on the surface of low carbon steel was investigated. The coating thickness, morphology, and cross-section microstructure of the composite coatings were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, Vickers microhardness and surface roughness of the coating layer were measured. It was found that a dense Al–В₄С composite coating could deposit on the surface, particularly, if longer milling periods. The microstructure of Al–В₄С composite coatings revealed that the distribution of В₄С particles in the Al matrix was homogenous. Increasing milling time from 6 to 30 h resulted in increase of the microhardness values from 220 to 280 HV for the pre-interface layer (5 µm).