Title: The reuse of alumina for grit blasting preparation of steel surface for thermal spraying

Authors: Rodolpho F. Vaz; Anderson G.M. Pukasiewicz; Gustavo B. Sucharski; Irene B.A.F. Siqueira; Samantha M.Z. Odake; Ramón S.C. Paredes

Addresses: Thermal Spray Center (CPT), University of Barcelona (UB), Carrer de Martí i Franquès 1, 7a Planta, 08028, Barcelona, Spain ' Federal University of Technology Paraná (UTFPR), Av. Monteiro Lobato, km 4, S/N, 84016-210, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil ' Institute of Technology for Development (LACTEC), Av. Lothario Meissner, 01, 82531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Av. Coronel Francisco H. Santos, 210, 81531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil ' Institute of Technology for Development (LACTEC), Av. Lothario Meissner, 01, 82531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil ' Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Av. Coronel Francisco H. Santos, 210, 81531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil ' Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Av. Coronel Francisco H. Santos, 210, 81531-980, Curitiba, PR, Brazil

Abstract: Thermally sprayed coatings rely on mechanical anchoring as the main bond mechanism, which depends on previous surface preparation of the substrate. In this work, alumina grit was used and reused to blast surfaces in order to evaluate its influence on granulometry, surface roughness, cleanliness, and coating adhesion strength upon reuse. SEM images illustrate the difference in grain sizes and EDS quantify contamination of the abrasive with the substrate elements after each abrasive reuse. Different parameters of roughness were chosen for the roughness characterisation of the substrates and were compared to the grain size decrease, showing a significant correlation between them. Lastly, the adhesion strength of the coatings was measured according to ASTM-C633-13 and compared to both the roughness and blasting cycle. The results show that a small fraction of abrasive with finer grit reduces the roughness significantly; however, the adhesion strength was not affected.

Keywords: alumina; reuse; grit blasting; preparation for coating; adherence of coating.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAT.2021.120261

International Journal of Abrasive Technology, 2021 Vol.10 No.4, pp.235 - 252

Received: 25 Apr 2020
Accepted: 04 Nov 2020
Published online: 13 Jan 2022 *

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