Developing high-temperature; high-strength; wear-resistant materials for engine applications

Purpose and goal

1.A new high temperature material has been developed including a robust materials design based on the combination of nickel aluminide as base material and chromium carbide as addition for improved wear resistance. 2. A basic understanding of the carbide matrix interaction has been realised and how this can be tuned and optimised with respect to the manufacture of the material as surface coatings by welding methods. 3. The tribological properties has been well documented in order to properly understand possibilities and limitations with respect to applications.

Expected results and effects

Intermetallic based composites like the combination of high strength nickelaluminide (Ni3Al/NiAl) with chromium carbide particles show improved wear resistance. Compared with reference materials, such composites in form of laser coatings show improved tribological properties. The presence of the chromium carbide induced much less wear on the composite itself as well as on the counterpart material. The laser cladding generated a dispersion of fine and/or coarse chromium carbides in the nickel aluminide based coating, with potential possibility in fine tuning of properties.

Planned approach and implementation

Development of material and process has been integrated to reach the project results. Wear mechanisms have also been significantly investigated to find out so-called wear maps. These efforts have been crucial for the overall results generation and a technology platform has been established for further development of the intermetallics-based materials concept or other advanced materials where complex wear mechanisms are involved. The overall approach has been instrumental to mature results to such level that they may contribute to the realisation of potential applications.