Fracture study of aluminum composite coatings produced by the kinetic spray method

The kinetic spray process is a low temperature method for producing coatings. This process allows one to formulate various mixtures of metals, ceramics, polymers, etc., and combine them with a ductile material (as the matrix), to produce composite coatings. The low temperatures involved result in little oxidation or reaction between the parent materials of the composite coating. This report deals with the study of fractured surfaces of aluminum composites using a matrix of aluminum with reinforcing particles of diamond, tungsten, silicon carbide or aluminum nitride. Fracture surfaces were examined with the SEM microscope for evidence of bonding.