Abstract
In the present research, a flame spraying technique with diverse cooling mediums has been used to enhance the surface properties of the thrust plate of a gear pump made of aluminium alloy. The influence of flame spraying on the surface of the thrust plate with reference to the coefficient of friction, wear volume, micro-hardness, change in microstructure, surface roughness, and formation of hard phases have been highlighted in this research. The field emission scanning electron microscopy micrograph indicates the formation of fine-grain microstructure in the flame-hardened surfaces due to the formation of the hard phases. Dry sliding wear test results indicate the improvement in friction coefficient in the hardened sample with olive oil cooling as compared to the parent surface. Optical profile analysis of the wear track shows the lower wear volume for the hardened samples with oil cooling as compared to the parent material. Micro-hardness of the flame-hardened surface increased from 80 HV0.5 (parent surface) to a maximum value of 132 HV0.5 (flame-hardened with oil-cooled). A significant improvement in water contact angle (from 740 to 970) also has been observed, indicating the enhancement in the hydrophobic nature of flame-hardened surfaces.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
