Numerical analysis of Al coating using different particle shape in LPCS

Abstract

Cold spray (CS) is a unique spraying process where the spray materials are not melted in a spray gun. Instead, the particles are kinetically deposited on the substrate at low temperature using compressed gas. This study investigates the deposition behaviour of different particle shape of Al coating using low pressure cold sprayed (LPCS) through smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations, which are achieved by modelling the multiple particle impacts on Al substrate. The impact of Al particle on the Al substrate is analysed by evaluating the shape of deformation, porosity between particle, and effect of stress on the substrate. The results show that the irregular particle shapes (horizontal and vertical ellipse) tend to detach the bonded particle from the substrate and thus increase the potential risk of high tensile stress. That is really harmful to the coating quality, which never happens for spherical particle. Deposition using irregular particle exhibits tensile stress at the depth coating, whereas spherical particle exhibits compressive stress. Compressive stress is generally ensure a longer component life due to their positive effect on the fatigue life and wear resistance application.