Duplex Surface Engineering of Aluminium Alloys: Electron Beam Surface Alloying and Plasma Nitriding

摘要

Surface modification of aluminium alloys Al-4046 (AlSi10Mg) and AI-5083 (AlMg4.5Mn0.7) by a combination of electron beam surface alloying and plasma nitriding has been investigated. Layers consisting of FeAl- and FeCr-powders were thermally-sprayed on each aluminium substrate. Fe and Cr are promising additional materials to obtain high hardness after surface alloying due to the formation of intermetallic phases. Furthermore, the effect of both elements on the nitridability of the formed surface alloyed layers was investigated. Optical microscopy as well as hardness measurement is done to evaluate the influence of the parameters of the electron beam surface alloying process. Scanning electron microscopy investigations give evidence of the formed phases and the morphology of the nitride layer. Pin on disk wear tests prove the wear resistance of the generated surface layers.