If you’re new to thermal plasma spray, you might not actually realise that there are several different approaches to this surface treatment. Let’s take a look.
What is thermal spraying?
Thermal spraying is a widely used method in engineering to treat a surface with a protective coating. Usually applied to components that have to deal with heat, wear, friction or corrosion, these thermal sprays help to protect the surface and improve results. They coat the material and finish it to ensure the component can work in its target environment, such as aerospace, energy, automotive, and manufacturing. All of these industries rely on thermal sprays for their components.
Thermal plasma spray
Thermal plasma spray uses high-temperature jets of plasma to melt the coating material and then propel it onto the prepared surface for treatment. It’s usually used with ceramic coatings because it means durable, dense levels with great heat and wear resistance.
Flame spraying
Another common treatment offered by specialists like //www.poeton.co.uk/surface-treatments/thermal-metal-sprays/plasma-coatings/ is flame spraying. Powder is melted using fuel gas flames and sprayed onto the surface of the substrate. Wire feedstock can also be used. It’s a cost-effective solution.
High Velocity Oxygen
This is made by spraying combustion gas at high speeds to make a hard, dense surface; ideal where abrasion resistance is essential.
Arc spraying
This basically uses electrically charged wires that create an arc to melt materials onto a target substrate. It’s most commonly used for large projects.
These different thermal spray processes are all interesting to know and demonstrate the variety of approaches for industrial substrate coating.
