SURFACE CHARACTERIZATION OF ARBOBLEND V2 NATURE COATED WITH CERAMIC MICRO PARTICLES

Abstract

The paper aims to investigate the behavior of Arboblend V2 Nature biopolymer samples covered with three ceramic powders, Amdry 6420 (Cr2O3), Metco 143 (ZrO2 18TiO2 10Y2O3) and Metco 136F (Cr2O3-xSiO2-yTiO2). The coated samples were obtained by injection molding, and the micropowder deposition was achieved by using the Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) method, with varied thickness layers. The present study will describe the results for nine, seven and five-layer deposition. It was observed that with the increase of the number of deposited layers the surface quality and mechanical/thermal characteristics such as wear and hardness are also increased. The followed determinations were conducted: the adhesion strength and hardness on a microscopic scale by micro-indentation. The samples’ crystalline structure as well as the presence of the Cr2O3 compound significantly influenced the micro-indentation and scratch analysis responses. The novelty of this study is given by itself the coating of the Arboblend V2 Nature biopolymer (as base material), with ceramic microparticles as the micropowder coating material. Following the under-taken study, the increase in the mechanica and tribological characteristics of the samples recommend all three coated biopolymer samples as suitable for operating in harsh conditions, such as the automotive industry, in order to replace plastic materials.