| Cold spray is a relatively new coating technology in which coatings are produced by spraying metal powders at high velocity, generating bonding through severe plastic deformation at temperatures well below the melting point of the powders. In the present study, pure face centered cubic metals (i.e. nickel, copper and aluminum) coatings were produced by cold spray. Electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the microstructural changes of these powder particles during cold spraying. The effect of gas temperature on the microstructure of copper coatings and the role of post-cold spray heat treatment in the nickel coatings are also studied. Of particular interest are grain refinement, recrystallization and particle/particle bonding mechanisms of the cold sprayed powders. |
