The effects of trace Sc addition on mechanical property and wear behavior of 2024/TiC composite coating processed by laser melting deposition

• Published in: Wear 2025-01, Vol.560-561, p.205598, Article 205598
• Main Authors: Liu, Yan, Lv, Hang, Yang, Qilin, Chen, Hui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Al-based composite coating; High temperature friction; Laser melting deposition; Sc modification
• ISSN: 0043-1648
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2024.205598

In the present work, Al-based composite coatings with various Sc additions were deposited on the surface of 2024 aluminium alloy. The effects of Sc element on the microstructure and performance of composite coating were investigated and discussed. The results showed that a moderate Sc addition (0.2 wt %) could refine the grains, reduce the porosity, eliminate micro-cracks, and improve the TiC distribution of composite coating. However, an excessive addition of Sc increased the content of Al-Cu-Sc ternary phase, resulting in the decrease of strength. In addition, the composite coating with 0.2 wt % Sc addition exhibited the best tensile properties with an ultimate tensile strength of 256 MPa and an elongation of 4.16 %, which was 54.4 % and 8.9 % higher than that of original composite coating, respectively. The friction temperature had a great impact on the wear mechanism of composite coatings. The composite coating with 0.2 wt % Sc addition exhibited the lowest wear rate at various temperature. With 0.2 wt% Sc addition, the microstructure of composite coating was refined significantly, along with a more uniform distribution of TiC particles. The synergetic effect of fine-grain strengthening, dispersion strengthening, and solution strengthening contributed to the improvement of strength and plasticity for composite coating. In addition, a more robust bonding between TiC and matrix also improve the friction performance of composite coating. •Trace Sc addition was found to be beneficial for grain refinement and uniformity of reinforced phase.•The tensile strength and elongation of Al-based composite coating increased simultaneously with 0.2 wt % Sc addition.•The high-temperature friction performance of Al-based composite coating was improved with 0.2 wt % Sc addition.•The wear mechanism was greatly influenced by the friction temperature.