Frequently Asked Questions
The plasma spray process allows coatings of almost any material to be deposited on to many substrate types. Coating materials range from oxide ceramics for thermal barriers and electrical insulation to tungsten carbide for extreme wear resistance, and include metallic alloys for corrosion resistant coatings, electrical conductors, and protection against sliding wear or control of friction properties. Typical coating thickness is in the range 0.2-2 mm. The porosity in the coatings is typically 5-10 vol%, while for metallic coatings the oxide level is about 1-3 wt%. Bond strength may exceed 80 MPa, depending on the coating type. One of the widest uses of plasma spraying is deposition of zirconia based coating systems for thermal barrier applications, particularly in gas turbines.
Commonly deposited coating materials include:
- Ceramics (e.g. Cr2O3, Al2O3, ZrO2)
- Metals and alloys (e.g. Mo, Ti, Ta, NiAl, NiCr, MCrAlY)
- Composites and abradable materials
- Plastics (epoxy, PVDF, polyamide, polyethylene)
See further information about Materials & Corrosion Management or please contact us.