Thursday, December 17, 2015

Useful Facts About Diffusion Coatings

By Marci Nielsen


The operation and application of metal components is done in diverse environments. The variance in the environments is of great importance because some of the environments have diverse impacts on components. Corrosive environments and high temperatures for instance can be very damaging. Adverse environments impact functionality, longevity, and beauty of components. As such, in an attempt to reduce or eliminate the effects, diffusion coatings were invented. The purpose of these coatings is protecting substrates from being ruined by adverse environments. The information below discusses the process and how it offers protection to substrates.

The process through which a diffusion coating is applied on a metal component is referred to with the same name, diffusion coating. The process takes place in environments with very high temperatures inside a controlled chamber. This process involves activating various metals such as cobalt, nickel, and iron thermally. During the process, the metal component that needs to be coated is cleaned using various methods such as abrasive blasting to remove all kinds of external materials that may affect bond formation with the coating.

After proper cleaning has been done, the component is placed inside the container and the coating material added. The container is then completely sealed and placed into a furnace, which may be in the form of a chamber. The temperature of the furnace is then raised to very high levels in the range of 380 to 425 degrees Celsius.

At those temperatures, the diffusion of the metal occurs, which allows it to form an alloy with the substrate or component. This process lasts variable amounts of time depending on the metal used and the nature of the substrate. Typically, it lasts between two to four hours. During the entire time, the component is rotated slowly for a uniform coating to form.

When the process is finished, the coating that results is usually smooth and has a uniform thickness. The thickness can be varied depending on the purpose the components is meant to do. However, typical thicknesses are between 15 to 80 micrometers. The coating takes the color of the metal used and common ones include chromium, silicon, aluminum, and iron. Various materials can also be coated including nickel, steels, cobalt, and iron among many others.

The coating that results is capable of resisting erosion, oxidation, and reaction with substances like air and water. Metal components that are used for critical functions are made stronger, more durable, and more reliable. Gave valves, pump impellers, power generation components, and gas turbines engine constituents including vanes, blades, and cases are among the components that are coated this way.

The process is used mostly in industrial settings and few household equipment have components that are coated this way. The technology was invented several years ago and has been undergoing a lot of modifications aimed at perfecting it. Currently, there are better methods and technology for doing it.

Modern day furnaces have a lot of improvements in the form of features aimed at increasing efficiency and functionality. Today it is possible to achieve very thin coatings that are very strong and effective at eliminating corrosion. The automotive industry is particularly known for using this technology.




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