Surface Treatment on Metals and Their Alloys

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2024) | Viewed by 9473

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Interests: surface layers; boriding; nitriding; carburizing; laser materials processing; laser surface alloying; microstructure; chemical and phase composition; nanomechanical properties; hardness; fracture toughness; wear and corrosion resistance; fatigue strength; tribology of materials; high-temperature tribology; solid lubricants/self-lubricating coatings

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Surface treatments are often used in order to improve the properties of metals and their alloys, such as their hardness, wear and corrosion resistance, or fatigue strength. Surface treatments can be used to produce surface layers via various techniques. The coatings are usually produced using incremental techniques, whereas superficial technological layers are formed with the use of decremental or non-decremental techniques. This Special Issue focuses on such surface layers which are formed by chemical or physical techniques and provide advantageous properties. The topics of interest for this Special Issue, in particular, include (but are not restricted to):

  • Diffusion layers produced by chemical techniques (in solid, liquid or gaseous media);
  • Diffusion layers produced by physical techniques under glow discharge conditions (in solid, liquid or gaseous media);
  • Layers produced by surface alloying (laser surface alloying, electron-beam surface alloying and plasma surface alloying);
  • Coatings produced by laser cladding, plasma cladding, thermal and detonation spraying, and PVD and CVD techniques;
  • Hybrid layers or coatings produced by combined techniques;
  • Microstructure, chemical and phase composition of the surface layers (superficial technological layers and coatings);
  • Properties of surface layers such as hardness, fracture toughness, wear and corrosion resistance, fatigue strength, and nanomechanical properties;
  • Modelling of the growth kinetics of the diffusion layers;
  • Surface treatment modelling.

Prof. Dr. Michał Kulka
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 14241 KiB  
Article
Effect of Heat Treatment Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of Titanium-Clad Steel Plate Prepared by Vacuum Hot Rolling
by Juan Pu, Tingmu Chen, Yubo Sun, Weimin Long, Huawei Sun and Yunxia Chen
Coatings 2024, 14(9), 1096; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14091096 - 30 Aug 2024
Viewed by 634
Abstract
Titanium-clad steel plates are widely used in chemical equipment and nuclear power equipment due to their excellent corrosion resistance and high strength. However, the Ti-C and Fe-Ti compounds generated easily at the titanium/steel interface deteriorate the bonding strength of titanium and steel, especially [...] Read more.
Titanium-clad steel plates are widely used in chemical equipment and nuclear power equipment due to their excellent corrosion resistance and high strength. However, the Ti-C and Fe-Ti compounds generated easily at the titanium/steel interface deteriorate the bonding strength of titanium and steel, especially in high-temperature service environments. In this study, pure Fe DT4 was chosen as an intermediate layer to control the formation of interfacial compounds. The plates of titanium/DT4/steel were manufactured by hot rolling technology with a small hole vacuuming. Then, titanium-clad steel plates were annealed at temperatures of 450 °C, 550 °C, and 650 °C to modify microstructure and properties. The interfacial microstructure composition, mechanical properties of titanium-clad steel plates, and the corrosion resistance property of titanium plates were studied in the as-rolled state and under different annealing temperatures. The results showed that compounds of TiC, FeTi, and Fe2Ti were generated at the interface of titanium-clad steel plates in the as-rolled state. After the annealing treatment, the types and quantities of the interfacial compounds were reduced, and these compounds were mainly TiC and FeTi at an annealing temperature of 450 °C. The interfacial compound was only TiC at an annealing temperature of 550 °C. However, the compounds of TiC and FeTi appeared at the interface at an annealing temperature of 650 °C. The variation of interfacial compounds determined the hardness and the shear strength of the titanium-clad steel plates. The more the interfacial compounds, the higher the hardness and the lower the shear strength. Therefore, when the annealing temperature was 550 °C, the interfacial hardness was lowest and the shear strength was highest. Meanwhile, the corrosion resistance of the titanium-clad plates showed significant improvement, indicating that this temperature provides favorable conditions for enhancing the corrosion performance of the plate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Treatment on Metals and Their Alloys)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3056 KiB  
Article
Tribological and Mechanical Behavior of Automotive Crankshaft Steel Superficially Modified Using the Boriding Hardening Process
by Enrique Hernández-Sánchez, Diego Hernández-Domínguez, Raúl Tadeo-Rosas, Yesenia Sánchez-Fuentes, Luz Alejandra Linares-Duarte, Carlos Orozco-Álvarez, José Guadalupe Miranda-Hernández and Rafael Carrera-Espinoza
Coatings 2024, 14(6), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14060716 - 5 Jun 2024
Viewed by 890
Abstract
One of the primary challenges in the automotive industry is the wear of engine components, such as the crankshaft and camshaft, which is the most pronounced during the engine’s startup phase, when the amount of lubricant fluid is at its lowest. This study [...] Read more.
One of the primary challenges in the automotive industry is the wear of engine components, such as the crankshaft and camshaft, which is the most pronounced during the engine’s startup phase, when the amount of lubricant fluid is at its lowest. This study aims to enhance the surface wear resistance of automotive crankshaft steel by applying a boriding thermochemical process. This process forms a hard surface layer on the steel, improving its mechanical properties and bolstering its wear resistance, especially under dry conditions. Boride layers were achieved using the powder-pack boriding process in a conventional furnace, with meticulous treatment times of 2, 4, and 6 h at a constant temperature of 950 °C. The nature of the layers was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, and their tribological behavior was evaluated using the pin-on-disk test. The growth of the layers was directly proportional to the treatment time and was estimated at 145 µm and 48 µm for the 6 and 2 h of treatment, respectively. The surface hardness increased from 320 HV for the non-treated steel to 2034 HV for the sample exposed to 950 °C for 6 h. The results indicate a significant reduction in the coefficient of friction from 0.43 for the non-treated steel to 0.12 for the samples exposed to 950 °C for 6 h, suggesting potential wear protection during the engine starting period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Treatment on Metals and Their Alloys)
Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 17276 KiB  
Article
Study of the Industrial Application of Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings Deposited on Advanced Tool Steels
by Eneko Barba, Adrián Claver, Francesc Montalà, José F. Palacio, Carmelo J. Luis-Pérez, Neus Sala, Carles Colominas and José Antonio García
Coatings 2024, 14(2), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14020159 - 25 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1987
Abstract
The utilization of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the performance, durability, and functionality of industrial tools and components. Recognized for their exceptional attributes such as hardness, wear resistance, low friction, and biocompatibility, DLC coatings have achieved [...] Read more.
The utilization of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the performance, durability, and functionality of industrial tools and components. Recognized for their exceptional attributes such as hardness, wear resistance, low friction, and biocompatibility, DLC coatings have achieved widespread acclaim for their potential to improve the capabilities of tool steels for different applications. This present study shows a comprehensive investigation into the application of DLC coatings on a diverse range of tool steel substrates, encompassing 1.2379, 1.2358, Caldie, K340, HWS, and Vanadis 4. The main aim is to show the effects of DLC coatings on these substrates and to provide an in-depth analysis of their properties during forming processes. Furthermore, this study explores the practical utilization of DLC-coated tool steel components, with a particular focus on their role in cold forming dies. Additionally, the study reviews the application of duplex treatments involving plasma nitriding to enhance DLC coating performance. To sum up, this study pursues a threefold objective: to investigate DLC coatings’ performance on diverse tool steel substrates; to assess the potential for improvement through nitriding; and to evaluate the behavior of DLC coatings in the cold stamping of S235 steel, which is of great technological and industrial interest to the cold forging sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Treatment on Metals and Their Alloys)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 6596 KiB  
Article
Interaction of Glass Powder with Al Powder and Zinc Oxide in Aluminum Paste
by Lizhi Hou, Shunke Liu and Xiaoyun Zhu
Coatings 2024, 14(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14010064 - 3 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1202
Abstract
By analyzing the interaction of different glass powders with Al powder and Zinc oxide, the effect of the wetting property of glass powders on the surface morphology of aluminum paste and the adhesion between aluminum paste and Zinc oxide substrate is discussed. The [...] Read more.
By analyzing the interaction of different glass powders with Al powder and Zinc oxide, the effect of the wetting property of glass powders on the surface morphology of aluminum paste and the adhesion between aluminum paste and Zinc oxide substrate is discussed. The effect of wetting property for different glass powders on Al and Zinc oxide is analyzed by a high-temperature contact angle tester, and the contact angle-temperature and extension radius-temperature curves are determined during the wetting process of the glass powders. The microstructure of the cross-section of the glass powders and of the substrate, and the surface morphology of the aluminum pastes are analyzed by a scanning electron microscope. Adhesion between the aluminum paste and the Zinc oxide substrate is analyzed by a vertical tensile strength meter. The results show that the wetting property of glass powder is an important factor affecting the adhesion and surface morphology of the paste, and it plays a role in preventing excessive oxidation of aluminum paste during sintering at high temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Treatment on Metals and Their Alloys)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 34708 KiB  
Article
Impact of Hot Isostatic Pressing Temperature on Tensile Properties of TA15 Titanium Alloy Produced via Laser Powder Bed Fusion
by Shiwei Ci, Jiaqi Hu, Zonghui Cheng, Qingwei Liu, Suijie Xie, Xiaoye Cai, Dingping Dong and Qiwei Wang
Coatings 2023, 13(10), 1742; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13101742 - 7 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1332
Abstract
TA15 titanium alloy holds great significance as a crucial material in the aerospace industry. In order to gain deeper insights into the influence of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) temperature on the tensile characteristics of materials formed through laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), a [...] Read more.
TA15 titanium alloy holds great significance as a crucial material in the aerospace industry. In order to gain deeper insights into the influence of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) temperature on the tensile characteristics of materials formed through laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), a comparative heat treatment experiment was crafted, aligning with the HIP treatment temperature settings. Specifically, the temperatures selected for this investigation were 900 °C, 940 °C, 980 °C, and 1020 °C, while the duration of the holding time was set at 2 h. Notably, the microstructure within the β phase region demonstrated distinct disparities between the HIP-treated specimens and those subjected to heat treatment. The heat-treated specimens exhibited the formation of Widmanstatten structure at 980 °C, while the metallographic structure of the HIP-treated specimens consisted of the lath α phase. In heat-treated specimens, an upward trend in temperature from 900 °C to 1020 °C led to a gradual decrease in UTS (995 MPa, 947 MPa, 886 MPa, and 892 MPa), YS (921 MPa, 865 MPa, 799 MPa, and 784 MPa). The elongation (15.7%,14.6%, and 13.3%) diminished as the temperature increased from 900 °C to 980 °C. At 1020 °C, the elongation slightly increased to 13.9%. The HIP-treated specimens showcased a declining trend in UTS (1008.5 MPa, 947 MPa, 886 MPa, and 892 MPa) and YS (939 MPa, 897.5 MPa, 839.5 MPa, and 844.5 MPa) with an increase in HIP treatment temperature from 900 °C to 980 °C, after which they experienced a slight increment upon further elevation to 1020 °C. The elongation (16%,18.3%, and 20.5%) demonstrated a remarkable improvement from 900 °C to 980 °C. At 1020 °C, the elongation decreased to 17.5%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Treatment on Metals and Their Alloys)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3788 KiB  
Article
Wearing Resistance of Metal Coating Layers after Laser Beam Heat Treatment
by Arthur Oláh, Teodor Machedon-Pisu and Petrică Vizureanu
Coatings 2023, 13(9), 1645; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13091645 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1453
Abstract
Laser heat treatment (LHT) is applied herein after coating. Evaluation of the results was performed by studying the microstructures via metallographic SEM/EDX microscopy, and the mechanical properties were analyzed in terms of microscopic hardness and abrasion resistance. The objective of this study was [...] Read more.
Laser heat treatment (LHT) is applied herein after coating. Evaluation of the results was performed by studying the microstructures via metallographic SEM/EDX microscopy, and the mechanical properties were analyzed in terms of microscopic hardness and abrasion resistance. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of LHT on the wear resistance of metal coatings. The results indicate the influence of the microstructure and chemical composition of the electrodes on the microhardness and wear resistance of the metal coatings (MCs). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Treatment on Metals and Their Alloys)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3342 KiB  
Article
Kinetic Modelling of Powder-Pack Boronized 4Cr5MoSiV1 Steel by Two Distinct Approaches
by Katia Benyakoub, Mourad Keddam, Brahim Boumaali and Michał Kulka
Coatings 2023, 13(6), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13061132 - 20 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1365
Abstract
This work attempts to model the powder-pack boronizing kinetics of 4Cr5MoSiV1 steel in the interval of 1133 and 1253 K in order to predict the layers’ thicknesses. The first approach is referred to as the bilayer model and relies on the conservation principle [...] Read more.
This work attempts to model the powder-pack boronizing kinetics of 4Cr5MoSiV1 steel in the interval of 1133 and 1253 K in order to predict the layers’ thicknesses. The first approach is referred to as the bilayer model and relies on the conservation principle of mass balance equations at the two phase fronts accounting for the linearity of boron distribution across each boride phase. The second approach deals with the application of dimensional analysis to simulate the boronizing kinetics of 4Cr5MoSiV1 steel. Using the bilayer model and the classical parabolic law, the boron activation energies in FeB and Fe2B were evaluated and discussed in light of the literature data. The estimated boron activation energies from the bilayer model were respectively equal to 164.92 and 153.39 kJ mol−1. These values were very comparable to those calculated from the classical parabolic law. Finally, it was proven that the dimensional analysis was able to simulate the layers’ thicknesses for the selected processing parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Treatment on Metals and Their Alloys)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop