Abstract
Surface modification is a technique to introduce foreign materials onto the surface of engineering component to improve its service behavior and to increase its lifetime. Aluminization and electroless nickel coating techniques were employed and combined to deposit iron-aluminide, electroless nickel and nickel-aluminide, respectively, on the surface of Fe-30.6Mn-5.9Al-0.95C alloy. Phases and microstructure of individual coating layer were investigated with X-ray diffractometer and electron probe microanalyzer. High temperature oxidation behaviors of coatings were evaluated through the 800°C oxidation tests. Owing to the spallation of iron and manganese oxide scale, the oxidation resistance of untreated Fe-Mn-Al alloy matrix was not sufficient. On the contrary, weight gains of iron-aluminide and nickel-aluminide coated alloys were very low due to the formation of protective Al 2 O 3 layers on surfaces. It is concluded that the oxidation resistance of Fe-Mn-Al alloy is significantly improved by the iron-aluminide and nickel-aluminide coatings on the surface derived from aluminization and electroless nickel coating combinations.