Mechanical and Electrochemical Behavior of CNT-Reinforced YSZ Coating

Thermally sprayed ceramic coatings with varied weight percentages of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement were examined. AISI 1020 steel was coated with yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO₂ + 8% Y₂O₃) using the atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) method. The study examined the CNT dispersion in the coating microstructure and evaluated the porosity, bond strength, and corrosion resistance of the coating. In addition, the coating thicknesses were measured. The coatings were characterized using a variety of techniques, including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, image analysis, bond strength testing, and corrosion analysis. According to the findings, adding CNTs to the coatings improved their mechanical characteristics, particularly their hardness and wear resistance. Notably, the best levels of hardness and wear resistance were seen in coatings with a 5 percent CNT reinforcement. Additionally, the coatings' corrosion resistance was enhanced by the inclusion of CNTs. The results of this work show that the mechanical and corrosion properties of thermally sprayed ceramic coatings can be successfully improved by the inclusion of CNTs. This means that these CNT-reinforced coatings have a lot of potential for a variety of applications, such as wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and thermal barrier coatings.