Alumosols in combination with well dispersed corundum were successfully used to form up to 2.5 ìm thick coatings on the Ni-base alloy SC16. These coatings withstood heat treatments at 700 °C in a water vapour containing atmosphere. The heat treatment caused formation of delta-alumina in the coating and diffusion of chromium and titanium into the coating.
Up to ~ 3 µm thick alumina coatings on corundum ceramic, sodalimesilica glass and Inconel718 were produced from mixtures of boehmite sols and corundum suspensions.
Transmission electron micrographs in combination with electron diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy served to identify crystallographic phases and to characterize the microstructure of the coatings. Using corundum ceramic as substrate the initially deposited boehmite transforms via transition aluminas to corundum while heating to 1200 °C. In the cases of glass and Inconel718 thermal treatments up to 520 °C and 1100 °C, respectively, cause diffusion of ions from the substrates into the coatings. Thus additional oxide phases were formed.
All coatings are free of cracks or delaminations and do not show any directed crystal growth.
Modified Yoldas sols can be used to prepare crack-free well adherent layers on different substrate materials such as sodalime glass, corundum and metal (IN-718). These layers having thicknesses of 0.6 µm are strain tolerant and withstand thermal cycling between 810 °C and room temperature. Introducing alpha-Al2O3 filler particles into modified Yoldas sols allows the preparation of thicker layers of 1.6 µm, which as well can be thermally cycled without noticeable delaminations. Chemical bonding seems to be the predominant layer bonding mechanism.