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.
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.
In order to reduce CO2 emissions fossil fuelled power stations with high combustion efficiency are being developed. The increase of the operating temperature, a common way to improve combustion efficiency, leads to enhanced corrosion of heat exchange steel tubes in the power plants. Within the framework of the European project “Production of Coatings for New Efficient and Clean Coal Power Plant Materials” (POEMA)", high temperature corrosion protection coatings are now under investigation.
Thin porous sol-gel alumina films are promising candidate coating materials. Coatings were prepared by applying boehmite sols on grinded steel P92 and subsequent heat treatments at temperatures up to 650 °C. Thus a porous layer of worm-like particles was formed consisting of nano-crystallites and amorphous alumina. A dense interface with satisfying adhesion resulted from diffusion of chromium and iron ions out of the steel into the porous coating. However, the film locally exhibited some cracks caused by steep edges in the grinded steel surface. An appropriate substrate pretreatment should avoid this problem.
The protection of the steel relies on the barrier function of the alumina coating and the formation of a dense chromia layer at the steel surface.