Abstract
Micron size Co-alloy(T800) powder was coated on Inconel 718 by HVOF thermal spraying for the studies of the improvement of durability of high speed spindle by using Taguchi program for the parameters of spray distance, flow rates of hydrogen and oxygen and powder feed rate. The optimal coating process was determined by the studies of coating properties such as micro-structure, porosity, surface roughness and micro hardness. Friction and wear behaviors of coatings were investigated by sliding wear test at room temperature and $1000^{\circ}F(538^{\circ}C)$. At both room temperature and $538^{\circ}C$ the sliding wear debris and friction coefficients of the coating were drastically reduced compared with the surface of non-coated parent material. This shows that Co-alloy powder coating is highly recommendable for the durability improvement surface coating of high speed air-bearing spindle. At high temperature wear traces and friction coefficients of both coating and non-coating were drastically reduced compared with those of room temperature since the brittle oxides were formed easily on the surface, and the brittle oxide phases were attrited by the reciprocating sliding wear according to the complicated mixed wear mechanisms These oxide particles, partially melts and the melts play role as lubricant and reduce the wear and friction coefficient. This also shows that Co-alloy powder coating is highly recommendable far the durability improvement surface coating on the surface vulnerable to frictional heat such as high speed spindles.
