Particle trajectory control with the use of different carrier gases
- Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
The quality of a coating that has been formed by plasma spraying is highly dependent on the path and the velocities of the particles being sprayed. Changing the flow rate of the carrier gas can have a strong effect on the trajectories and velocities of the particles. Very little research has been done on the effects of the carrier gas on the plasma spray process. Argon is the most commonly used carrier gas in an argon-helium plasma torch. Different gases will have different characteristics, such as enthalpy, thermal conductivity and specific heat. How these differences affect the spray process needs to be understood to improve the system. In this research, the influence of various carrier gases on the plasma jet, particle behavior and coating quality are investigated. Argon, helium and nitrogen have been used for comparison. The coating characteristics that are considered include coating thickness distribution, porosity and unmelted particle distribution. The particle trajectories and velocities, the luminous jet geometries and the plasma jet fluctuations are also compared by using the LaserStrobe{trademark} Vision system and computerized image analysis.
- OSTI ID:
- 377735
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9509182--; ISBN 0-87170-541-9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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