Thermal Spray Technology
Metal, Ceramic and Ceramic-Metal High Performance Coatings for Machine Parts and Other Components
There are several types of plasma spraying. We use the Air Plasma Spraying (APS) technique. The nozzle of the burner consists of a tungsten cathode and copper anode.
A mixture of oxygen and kerosene (HVOF liquid fuel), oxygen and propane/ethylene (HVOF gas fuel), or oxygen and a propane–propylene or propane-natural gas mix (HVAF) burns continuously
The material in the form of wire or powder enters the ignited mixed gas (oxy-acetylene, propane-butane, propylene) where it is propelled towards the surface, substrate material which is being coated.
An electric arc burns between two metallic wires, which produces molten particles of material. These particles are propelled by compressed air towards the surface that requires coating.
Equipped with machining centre and tools for machining and milling of applied metal, ceramic, and ceramic-metal coatings.
Thermal Spraying refers to the technological procedure whereby a suitable source of heat is used to transform a material into either a molten, fused or plastic state, the particles of which are subsequently propelled by an appropriate method towards the prepared surface of the substrate material, i.e. the component, where it then forms a continuous coating with the desired properties.
The thickness of surface coatings applied in this way can range from 50 to 3,000 µm. For thicker coatings, a multi-hole torch is needed.
Thermal Spray coatings are most often applied to surfaces to improve wear resistance protection against erosion, abrasion and cavitation; increase corrosion resistance; enhance tribological properties; increase bioactivity; improve fire-resistance – ferrous and non-ferrous alloys; increase electrical conductivity, or vice versa, its complete isolation; ensure specific requirements – optical surface properties; resistance to radiation damage, and so on.
There are many sources of information on the Internet about these technologies. These include the “ Atlas of Thermal Spraying and Welding Methods ”. The authors of this publication are our colleagues from CEITEC (VUT Brno) in cooperation with our company.
