Aluminide coatings were applied to UNS 30400 stainless steel coupons using the halide activated pack cementation process. The aluminizing process was studied at two different temperatures with two different activator salts - aluminum fluoride and aluminum chloride. The effect of process conditions, i.e., pack composition, pack size, process temperature, and activator salt type, on the coating characteristics (microstructure, thickness, hardness, etc.) was investigated using different metrics, including mass and thickness changes, microhardness, microscopy, and surface topography. Mass gain per unit area and coating thicknesses were plotted as a function of temperature. The coating microstructure was evaluated using optical microscopy, optical surface profilometry, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy. In addition, X-ray diffraction was used to identify phases present in the coating. Coated coupons were further characterized using Vickers microhardness. The surface topography of the coated coupons was quantified.

Subject
X-ray diffraction, Coatings, Materials, Salts, Substrates, Aluminum, Steel coupons, Metal coupons, Roughness, Microhardness, Substrate surfaces, Stainless steel, Activators
Keywords:
aluminizing, pack cementation, stainless steel, halide activated pack cementation, coatings
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2021
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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