Rhodium influence on the microstructure and oxidation behaviour of aluminide coatings deposited on pure nickel and nickel based superalloy

Abstract

The rhodium 0,5 μm thick layer was deposited on pure nickel and CMSX 4 Ni-based superalloy using the electroplating method. The rhodium coated substrates were aluminized by the CVD method. Oxidation resistance of nonmodified and rhodium modified coatings deposited both on nickel and CMSX 4 superalloy was compared. The triple-layer structure of rhodium modified coatings deposited on pure nickel was found. The β-(Ni,Rh)Al, rhodium doped γ'-Ni3Al and rhodium doped γ-Ni(Al) phases were the main components of the coatings on pure nickel. Two layers - additive and interdiffusion ones were identified in coatings deposited on CMSX 4 superalloy. TEM, SEM and XRD analysis revealed that β-(Ni,Rh)Al phase was the main component of the additive layer. Moreover Topologically Closed-Pack σ phases containing refractory elements in the β-(Ni,Rh)Al matrix of the interdiffusion layer were found. The rhodium modified aluminide coatings have better oxidation resistance than the nonmodified ones both on the pure nickel and CMSX 4 superalloy.