Comprehensive Study on Production Methods and Applications of Functionally Graded Coatings

Abstract

Surface modification of metal substrates by coatings has remained a challenging research topic because of the conflicting demands for various properties. Functionally graded coatings (FGCs) have recently attracted the attention of researchers all over the globe owing to their mechanical, electrical, thermal and tribological characteristics in a variety of advanced engineering applications. These coatings are usually characterized by low porosity, good adhesion and base material compatibility, which includes temperature and geometry. However, coatings often experience some problems like variable thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) as compared to their base metals. Thus, to overcome this issue, the functionally graded material (FGM) layers may be employed. Hence, the purpose of this chapter is to describe a general idea of FGM coatings, including classifications of production methods and their diverse applications