The thermal spray coating process has a variety of applications in the aerospace, paper, mining, automotive, steel, and other industries. The process consists of introducing a metallic or ceramic particulate material into a hot gas jet that is generated by either electric arc discharge (plasma) or oxygen-fuel combustion. The particles are heated and accelerated by the gas jet to be deposited on the substrate to form a coating. The diagnostic capabilities include laser spectroscopic techniques for the measurement of molecular and atomic specie concentrations in the plasma jet as well as its velocity and temperature. They also include techniques for measuring the temperature, velocity, and size of individual particles in the spray field. Visualization methods, such as pulsed laser schlieren and pulsed laser strobe video, are employed to understand entrainment phenomena in the gas jets and the sprayed particle trajectory through the jets.
- Contacts:
- Gary Groenewold, (208) 526-2803, Send E-mail