Thermochemical calculations for the deposition of aluminium and chromium us
ing the metal-subhalide chemistry have been performed by the HSC chemistry
software. Before depositing, the flow regimes that lead to a fluidized bed
without particle elution have been measured at room and deposition temperat
ures. Aluminium diffusion coatings have been obtained on austenitic AISI 30
4 stainless steel and IN-100 Ni-base alloy; the deposition being much faste
r on the steel substrates. However, the chromium diffusion coatings are onl
y achieved on the IN-100 Ni-base superalloy since in the steel, volatilizat
ion of Fe occurs at the first stages of deposition. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien
ce S.A. All rights reserved.