Aluminum Based Nanostructured Composite Coatings: Processing, Microstructure And Wear Behavior

Hypereutectic aluminum based nanostructured composite coatings are synthesized by plasma spraying technique. Carbon nanotubes and nanostructured aluminum oxide reinforcements are added to the aluminum based coating. Plasma processing conditions have been optimized to retain the nanostructure in the coating. Preliminary investigations suggest that carbon nanotubes transformed into other allotrope of carbon whereas nanostructured aluminum oxide has been retained in the coating. Tribological behavior of these coatings has also been investigated using block on disk tribometer