Cold spraying, also called cold gas dynamic spraying, is a new coating technology which has been developed duringthe past three decade. In this study, a comprehensive investigation on particle deformation behavior and bondingbehavior between particle and substrate was conducted by experiment and numerical method.This thesis aims at presenting an innovative method to directly observe the fractured contact surface between thecold sprayed particle and substrate. By this means, the particle/substrate fractured contact surfaces were analyzedfor different conditions.Based on the experimental results, a new theory was proposed to explain the interfacial bonding mechanism of hardNi coating onto soft Al substrate. It is assumed that the particle peening effect is essential for the formation ofdiscontinuous metallurgical bonding. The dominant coating/substrate bonding mechanism is responsible of thetransformation during the coating build-up process of the initial mechanical interlocking to a combination ofmechanical interlocking and metallurgical bonding therefore of the formation of interfacial instabilities. The highcontact pressure is the relevant factor determining the particle/substrate metallurgical bonding. More metallurgicalbonding areas were generated due to strengthen peening effect of the subsequently deposited particles with higherpropelling gas pressure. Finally, stronger adhesion is able to occur despite the presence of a thick oxide film on thesubstrate surface by the preheating of the substrate. Higher temperatures help the materials to undergoes astronger plastic deformation that disrupts the oxide films. That leads to initiate an intimate contact between particleand substrate.