Meta Description: Learn how plasma-sprayed Ni60-Al₂O₃ composite coatings enhance Q345B steel’s corrosion and wear resistance. Research supports durable steel structures for bridges, factories, and marine environments.
Introduction
Steel structures, made from section steel and plates, are widely used in bridges, industrial plants, and high-rises. They offer key benefits: light weight, high strength, easy construction, and great seismic performance. However, compared to traditional steel-concrete structures, steel faces big challenges:
- Rusts easily when exposed to corrosive environments
- Gets damaged by friction or collisions over time
This is especially critical for steel used in harsh industrial or marine areas—protecting it from corrosion and external forces is urgent. Traditional surface treatments like silanization, manganese phosphating, and galvanizing focus on rust removal. While these methods work, few improve both corrosion and wear resistance at the core level.
Why Plasma-Sprayed Composite Coatings?
Plasma spraying is a top technique for building protective coatings on steel. For Q345B low-alloy steel (common in architectural landscapes), it delivers two key advantages:
- Boosts corrosion resistance: Reduces frequent rust removal and adds aesthetic value
- Enhances wear resistance: Stops damage from friction and impacts, extending the steel’s service life
But a common issue exists: single-component Al₂O₃ coatings, when plasma-sprayed on steel, have poor bonding with the steel substrate. This is due to big differences in thermal expansion coefficients, leading to easy cracking and peeling.
The Role of Ni60-Al₂O₃ Combinations
Ni60 alloy powder solves the Al₂O₃ coating problem. It has low melting point and great wettability, so it bonds well with Al₂O₃. This:
- Reduces coating cracking
- Improves overall composite performance
However, no clear research explains how different Ni60-Al₂O₃ ratios affect the wear and corrosion resistance of plasma-sprayed coatings on steel substrates. This gap limits wider application of this technology.
Our Research Focus
To fill this gap, our study uses Q345B low-alloy steel (a staple in architectural steel structures) as the base material. We:
- Plasma-spray 4 different Ni60-Al₂O₃ composite coating ratios on Q345B steel
- Test how coating ratios and chemical modification affect phase composition, micro-morphology, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance
Key Goals & Significance
This research aims to:
- Provide technical data for surface modification of building steel structures
- Improve the performance and lifespan of Q345B steel in harsh environments
- Enable steel structures to perform better in industrial, marine, and high-rise projects
By clarifying the Ni60-Al₂O₃ ratio effect, we make plasma spraying a more reliable solution for durable, low-maintenance steel structures worldwide.
