Process Refinement Through Design of Experiments (Taguchi) to Reduce Porosity Levels of Thin Flame Spray NiCrBSi Coatings on Cast Aluminium Alloys

Thin(16matrix of key deposition parameters was constructed to develop the optimum spray parameters. The effects of parameter variations on the porosity levels of these coatings were assessed. Key parameter interactions were reported. Quantifiable interactions between the selected parameters were noted for the LM24 substrate. However, on the LM25 substrate these interactions were much less defined. Corrosion performance of the optimised coatings, based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, was reported. The presence of through-pores in the coatings were shown to reduce the corrosion resistance of the coated systems by a factor of 10, in dilute NaCl solutions, compared to bulk 316L stainless steel.