Microstructures and properties of PVD aluminum bronze coatings

Aluminium bronze coatings were deposited by the hollow cathode discharge (H CD) ion plating technique. The thickness of coatings were over 20 mum with excellent adhesion to the substrate. The structures of the coatings deposit ed on QAL10-4-4 aluminum bronze were studied by cross-sectional transmissio n electron microscopy (X-TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that coating consists of different morphology zones. There are more gamma (2)(Cu9Al4)and beta>(*) over bar * (NiAl) phase in the coating than in the bulk material. The wear test and practical application showed that after de posit the wear resistance evidently improved. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A . All rights reserved.