Ni–Al intermetallic coating technology is an available method for the strengthening of aluminum substrate. In this study, Ni–Al intermetallics were coated on an aluminum substrate through a reaction synthesis process at a temperature lower than me...
Ni–Al intermetallic coating technology is an available method for the strengthening of aluminum substrate. In this study, Ni–Al intermetallics were coated on an aluminum substrate through a reaction synthesis process at a temperature lower than melting point of aluminum. And the sliding wear properties of the coatings have been investigated to verify their usability and compared the wear properties with those of a cast Al-12.5%Si alloy and an anodizing layer on aluminum. Results show that the wear rate of the coating layer greatly increased at 1 m/s and 1.5 m/s when compared with that of the cast Al-12.5%Si alloy. Much pitting damages were observed on the worn surfaces at these sliding speeds, unlike at other sliding speeds. The wear of the intermetallic coating layer at these sliding speeds seems to be increased by pitting as a consequence of adhesion. In contrast, wear of the coating layer at other speeds hardly occurs, regardless of wear periods. Nevertheless, the wear properties of the intermetallic coating layer on the aluminum substrate through the reaction synthesis process are more stable than those of anodized aluminum and are superior to those of the cast Al-12.5%Si alloy in a steady-state wear period.