Structure and Properties of Cold Spray Coatings

Cold spray coatings are considered promising for surface protection of light metal substrates but the mechanisms of bonding and coating build-up are still poorly understood and are the subject of continuing debate. A variety of coating/substrate combinations have been characterised in detail using electron microscopy to examine the nature of the interparticle and particle/substrate interfaces. Through-thickness residual stress profiles obtained via neutron diffraction show that the internal stress varies significantly depending on the coating materials. The work will present a picture of the cold spray deposition process using different material examples.