Re–Cr–Ni high-temperature resistant coatings on Cu substrates prepared by thermionic vacuum arc (TVA) method

Abstract

Re–Cr–Ni composite metallic films were prepared using an original plasma deposition method developed at INFLPR, Bucharest, called thermionic vacuum arc (TVA). The method is based on the evaporation of a metal followed by ignition of a plasma in the vapours. These three-component films/alloy films were deposited using three simultaneous TVA plasma sources in the same vacuum chamber. Surface corrosion at temperatures up to 1000 °C was found not to take place in these Re–Cr–Ni alloy films as shown by thermogravimetric analysis. The current results demonstrate that the TVA method is a promising candidate tool for the synthesis of multiple compound films. Films of uniform and controlled composition can be simultaneously obtained using this method. Moreover, high melting point metals can be involved in these superalloy films, thus leading to applications in extremely hot conditions such as turbine blades and aircraft parts.