Quantitative determination of SiC particles distribution of cold sprayed Al5056/SiC composite coatings

In order to explore an easy way determining the hard particle distribution in the cold sprayed composite coatings. Four Al5056/SiC composite coatings were employed in the present study. One quantitative metallographic analysis method, box-counting (BC) and hardness indentation method, the Weibull distribution were used. The relative deviation value σ and the shape parameter m were used as the quantitative factors for determining the uniformity of the SiC distribution in the coating, respectively. Results show that both methods obtained the same tendency that the uniformity of SiC distribution in the coating following the order of Al5056 + 30vol.-%SiC> +15vol.-% SiC> +45vol.-%SiC> +60vol.-%SiC. Results suggest that the increase of the SiC content could worsen the SiC uniformity in the composite coatings. However, there is still an optimised SiC content for uniform distribution, as for the 30vol.-% for the present case. The hardness Weibull distribution is more simple and feasible than the BC method.