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Thixoforming : Semi-solid Metal Processing

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For all NIF values, it appears that the estimated densities and the corresponding<br />

elastic modulus are lower than the theoretical values. It is reasonable to assume that<br />

the pore formation is responsible for this behaviour.<br />

Performance-related tests were used in order to study material properties by<br />

isolating individual process loads such as adhesion to the substrate, friction and<br />

thermal shock resistance. The results obtained in these experiments led to the<br />

identification of degradation and failure mechanisms that are related to the specific<br />

loads applied in each test. For these tests, the alumina films deposited on tempered<br />

hot working steel at different AlCl3/O2 ratios (PR) and substrate temperature were<br />

chosen (set of experiments 3, Table 8.9).<br />

Adhesion is one of the most important properties of a coating since inadequate<br />

adhesion may result in delamination and hence in the loss of all desired functionality<br />

of the surface coating. Adhesion was evaluated by using so-called scratch test<br />

measurements. The resulting scratch traces are presented in Figure 8.36.<br />

It has been observed that the critical load (F C) for g-alumina films is about 20 N and<br />

is independent of TS. Fora-alumina films, FC varies strongly with TS. At 600 C,<br />

FC ¼ 10 N; when TS is decreased to 560 C, FC increases to 20 N. For a given phase<br />

(g-or a-alumina), no influence of PR was observed. In order to enhance the adhesive<br />

properties, alumina films were deposited on previously nitrided steel. This process<br />

enables FC to be increased to 50 5 N independently of the deposition conditions.<br />

Another important parameter which can affect the lifetime of a tool is friction<br />

arising during manufacturing processes. Figure 8.37 shows the friction coefficient of<br />

the steel ball against alumina coatings plotted versus T S and P R.<br />

As a general observation, the average friction coefficient values increase with<br />

decreasing PR and TS. The resistance of the as-deposited films to stresses caused by<br />

thermal shock treatment was investigated for films deposited at TS ¼ 560 C. The<br />

Figure 8.36 Optical micrograph showing the scratch traces of<br />

alumina films deposited at an AlCl 3/O 2 ratio of 0.5 and at<br />

temperatures of (a, b) 600 C, (c, d) 580 C and (e, f) 560 C [66].<br />

8.5 Developing Al 2O 3 PECVD Coatings for <strong>Thixoforming</strong> Mouldsj279

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