Abstract:

 
Some valuable works have been done since 1990, in the areas of rare earth surface engineering by using thermal spray and laser technologies. These works involved in not only some different alloy coatings, but also some ceramic coatings. It has been demonstrated that the addition of rare earths can improve the microstructure, hardness, toughness, band strength, thermal shock resistance, and increase the wear and corrosion resistance of the coatings. Some rare earth modified coatings have found successful applications in practices.
 
The present paper reviews the development in the areas of applications of rare earths in thermal spray coatings and laser surface modifications. The mechanism of surface modifications of rare earths for such applications was discussed.