Microstructure and phase composition of the Ni-Si-B-Ag-based plasma spray deposit

The aim of this work is to study the possibility of obtaining an amorphous-crystalline composite starting from Ni-Si-B-based powder grade 1559-40 and silver powder. The process of plasma spray deposition was performed on a water-cooled copper substrate. The cooling rate was assessed using a mid-wave infrared MWIR camera. The microstructure of the deposit was studied using scanning electron microscope SEM with an energy dispersive spectrometer EDS. Phase identification was performed using X-ray diffraction XRD. The studies confirmed an amorphous-crystalline microstructure of the deposits. The predominant constituent of the microstructure was amorphous regions enriched in Ni, Si, and B, while the other constituent was Ag-rich crystalline inclusions identified as a face-centered cubic fcc.