Nucleation and coating growth in the titanising of high speed steels

Abstract

The nucleation and growth of the coatings are affected by each of the two components of the substrate, these being the primary carbides and the matrix containing dissolved carbon. The formation of the coating starts with the matrix on which the nuclei form, which then proceed to cover the whole of the surface of the metal by a process of lateral growth. The temperature of the process has a considerable effect on both the nucleation process and growth of the coating, an increase in the processing temperature resulting in a reduction in the nucleation density.