Marcelino P. Nascimento

Effects of surface treatments on the fatigue strength of AISI 4340 aeronautical steel

Abstract Internal residual stresses significantly influence the fatigue strength of coated materials. It is well known that chromium plating is the most used electrodeposited coating for important industrial applications. However, pressure to identify alternatives or to improve the chromium electroplating process have increased in recent years, related to the reduction in fatigue strength of the base material and to environmental requirements. The high efficiency and fluoride free hard chromium electroplating (here called “accelerated”) is an improvement to the conventional process. One environmentally safer and cleaner alternative to hard chromium plating is tungsten carbide thermal spray coating applied by the High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) process. To increase the fatigue strength of chromium plated materials, coating thickness and microcracks density are important parameters to be controlled. Techniques as compressive residual stresses induced by shot peening and multilayers, are also used. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects on AISI 4340 steel, in the rotating bending fatigue behaviour, of the: tungsten carbide thermal spray coating applied by HP/HVOF process; chemical nickel underplate, and shot peening process applied before coating deposition, in comparison to hard chromium electroplatings. Rotating bending fatigue test results indicate better performance for the conventional hard chromium plating in relation to the accelerated hard chromium electroplating. Tungsten carbide thermal spray coating and accelerated hard chromium plate over nickel resulted in higher fatigue strength when compared to samples conventional or accelerated hard chromium plated. Shot peening showed to be an excellent alternative to increase fatigue strength of AISI 4340 steel hard chromium electroplated.

Effects of tungsten carbide thermal spray coating by HP/HVOF and hard chromium electroplating on AISI 4340 high strength steel

Abstract In cases of decorative and functional applications, chromium results in protection against wear and corrosion combined with chemical resistance and good lubricity. However, pressure to identify alternatives or to improve conventional chromium electroplating mechanical characteristics has increased in recent years, related to the reduction in the fatigue strength of the base material and to environmental requirements. The high efficiency and fluoride-free hard chromium electroplating is an improvement to the conventional process, considering chemical and physical final properties. One of the most interesting, environmentally safer and cleaner alternatives for the replacement of hard chrome plating is tungsten carbide thermal spray coating, applied by the high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) process. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of the tungsten carbide thermal spray coating applied by the HP/HVOF process and of the high efficiency and fluoride-free hard chromium electroplating (in the present paper called ‘accelerated’), in comparison to the conventional hard chromium electroplating on the AISI 4340 high strength steel behaviour in fatigue, corrosion, and abrasive wear tests. The results showed that the coatings were damaging to the AISI 4340 steel behaviour when submitted to fatigue testing, with the tungsten carbide thermal spray coatings showing the better performance. Experimental data from abrasive wear tests were conclusive, indicating better results from the WC coating. Regarding corrosion by salt spray test, both coatings were completely corroded after 72 h exposure. Scanning electron microscopy technique (SEM) and optical microscopy were used to observe crack origin sites, thickness and adhesion in all the coatings and microcrack density in hard chromium electroplatings, to aid in the results analysis.

The effect of WC-17Co thermal spray coating by hvof and hard chromium electroplating on the fatigue life and abrasive wear resistance of AISI 4340 high strength steel

One of the most interesting alternatives for replacement of hard chrome plating is tungsten carbide thermal spray coating applied by the high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) process which presents a safer, cleaner and less expensive alternative to chromium plating. The objective of this research is to compare the influence of the tungsten carbide-17cobalt (WC-17Co) coating applied by high velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) process with that of hard-chromium electroplating on the fatigue strength and abrasive wear of AISI 4340 steel.

Effect of a Shot Peening Pre Treatment on the Fatigue Behaviour of Hard Chromium on Electroless Nickel Interlayer Coated AISI 4340 Aeronautical Steel

Multiple layer systems of coatings are considered to have larger resistance to crack propagation in comparison to coatings with simple layer. With regard to fatigue, it is possible to improve the resistance of a component with the application of shot peening treatment, whose compressive residual stresses delay or eliminate the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks. The aim of this study is to analyse the effects on rotating bending fatigue behaviour of hard chromium ¾ electroless nickel multilayer system coated AISI 4340 high strength steel submitted to shot peening pre treatment. Results indicated that the interaction between the shot peening process with the multilayer system was not satisfactory, resulting in intense delamination. Fracture surface analysis by SEM was performed toward to identify the fatigue crack origin, as well as the coating-substrate delamination process.

The Effect of WC-17co Thermal Spray Coating by HVOF and Hard Chromium Electroplating on the Fatigue Life and Abrasive Wear Resistance of AISI 4340 High Strength Steel

One of the most interesting alternatives for replacement of hard chrome plating is tungsten carbide thermal spray coating applied by the high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) process which consists in a safer, cleaner and less expensive alternative to chromium plating. The objective of this research is to compare the influence of the tungsten carbide-17cobalt (WC-17Co) coating applied by high velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) process and hard-chromium electroplating on the fatigue strength and abrasive wear of A1S1 4340 steel.

Fatigue apparatus for geometrically complex non-standardized specimens

Department of Materials and Technology State University of Sao Paulo-UNESP/FEG, 333, Ariberto Pereira da Cunha Ave., CEP 12500-000, Guaratingueta City, Sao Paulo State