Flame spraying of aluminum coatings reinforced with particles of carbonaceous materials as an alternative for laser cladding technologies

The article presents results of the preliminary research of mechanical properties of flame-sprayed aluminum coatings reinforced with carbon materials made on the construction steel S235J0 substrate. For reinforcement the following carbon materials were used: carbon nanotubes Nanocyl NC 7000 (0.5 wt.% and 1 wt.%) and carburite (0.5 wt.%). The properties evaluation was made using metallographic macroscope and microscope, chemical composition, microhardness, abrasion and erosion resistance studies. The obtained results were compared with aluminum powder coatings (EN AW1000 series). It was proved that the flame spraying of aluminum coatings reinforced with particles of carbonaceous materials can be an effective alternative for laser cladding technology. The preliminary test results will be successively extended by further experiments to contribute in the near future to develop innovative technologies, that can be implemented in the automotive industry for production of components with high strength, wear resistance, good thermal conductivity and low density, such as brake shoes, cylinder liners, piston rings and gears.