Deposition of CerMet coatings by cold gas spray

The term CerMet identifies materials consisting of a ceramic particles dispersion in a metal matrix. The ceramic phase gives hardness to the material, the metallic one confers toughness. For this reason, the CerMets, also in the form of coatings, are among the reference materials for anti-wear applications. The presence of the ceramic phase affects the ductility of the material, making deposition by CGS (Cold Gas Spray) difficult. This has a negative impact on the further exploitation of the technology. In the scientific literature there are many contributions on the subject, both experimental and theoretical, but the key point, i.e., how the presence of the ceramic phase influences the mechanisms of adhesion and cohesion of the coatings, has not yet been fully understood. In the present work, the main literature contributions will be reviewed, and some original results, on the deposition by CGS of Ti and AISI 304 based CerMet, will also be presented. On the base of the presented results, guidelines for the deposition of CerMet through CGS will be drawn.