S.M Hashemi - PhD student, Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
N PARVIN - Associate Professor, Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Z VALEFI - Assistant Professor, Department of Metallic Materials, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

In this research, Cr2O3, YSZ, and SiC ceramic nanopowders were prepared, mixed and then agglomerated to reach the proper size for spraying. Afterward, Cr2O3 (C), Cr2O3-20YSZ (CZ), and Cr2O3-20YSZ-10SiC (CZS) nanocoatings were deposited onto 304L steel substrates using Atmospheric Plasma Spraying (APS) process. Microstructures of the initial/milled powders and the coatings were characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) equipped with EDS. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed only the peaks of the initial powders without any traces of impurities and new-appearance peaks. Considering mechanical properties evaluations, producing CZ coating through adding tough YSZ particles to C coating caused a considerable increase in the coating toughness while decreased its hardness. Subsequent addition of intrinsically hard SiC particles to the CZ composite coating increased the degraded hardness of the coating to a higher value. However, Composite CZ and CZS coatings showed lower bonding strengths and higher porosities when compared to C coating.

Cr2O3-YSZ-SiC, Ceramic Matrix Nanocomposite, Plasma-sprayed Coating, Ball Milling, Mechanical Properties.