A Preliminary Study on Hybrid Use of Thermal Spray Coating and Ultrasonic Nanocrystalline Surface Modification Technique on the Tribological Properties of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Coating

Abstract

An ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) technique was applied to a thermally sprayed yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) ceramic coating deposited onto a hot tool steel substrate to improve the mechanical and tribological properties. The friction test results showed that the UNSM-treated coating had a smoother surface, a lower friction, and a higher resistance to wear compared to that of the as-sprayed coating. It was also demonstrated that the UNSM technique improved the adhesion behavior of the coating by about 24%. Hence, it was found that a hybrid use of thermal spray coating (TSC) and UNSM technique is a meaningful way to bring together synergy effect of two emerging surface technologies in terms of tribology.