Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Comparison of plasma sprayed alumina and zirconia coatings by RF and DC plasma spraying

Book ·
OSTI ID:160505

Low velocity plasma torches allow to spray bigger particles than conventional (CPT) dc plasma torches. For example, with fused and crushed alumina which size distribution is {minus}90 + 45 {micro}m, the deposition efficiency is about 40% with a CPT which nozzle internal diameter (i.d.) is 7 mm against more than 60% when using a 10 mm i.d. torch adapted to work with the same parameters. With the 10 mm i.d. nozzle the particle velocity is only 90 m/s against 130 m/s with the 7 mm i.d. nozzle. RF plasma torches allow to reach even low particle velocities (in the range 20--60 m/s). This paper compares plasma sprayed alumina and zirconia coatings realized with a RF plasma torch, a low velocity CPT and a CPT. Coating characterization (adhesion/cohesion, microhardness, density) are given for two substrate temperatures (75 C and 300 C) and for the three torches. It discusses the influence of particle velocity and substrate temperature on coatings thermomechanical properties.

OSTI ID:
160505
Report Number(s):
CONF-940684--; ISBN 0-87170-509-5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English