What Does
Plasma Spraying Mean?
Plasma spraying is a thermal process which entails creating a coating by spraying particles softened by heat onto a substrate. The particles sprayed are normally in the form of powder which is injected into the plasma flame to be heated to high temperatures. The particles are accelerated and then propelled onto the material, where they rapidly cool off to form the coating.
Plasma spraying is also known as plasma arc spraying.
Corrosionpedia Explains Plasma Spraying
Plasma spraying strives to prevent damage and corrosion. It makes the components of any sprayed material last longer, even if regularly exposed to high temperatures or combustible gases.
The benefits of this thermal process are:
- Prevention of corrosion in materials
- Wear resistance
- Electrical conductivity
- Electrical resistance
- Oxidation and heat resistance
- Management of high temperatures
Plasma spraying uses an arc that consists of either a combination of argon and hydrogen or argon and helium. The arc has high temperatures of up to 20,000 K, while the plasma jet is 10,000 K. The arc heats up the plasma gas, which then causes it to accelerate to the material being coated.
Any material can be sprayed to give the substrate a coating, making plasma spraying a flexible thermal process, hence applicable on a wide range of materials. It can be used to coat ceramic oxides, tungsten, and tantalum refractory materials. It can be applicable in automotive, medical, agriculture or aerospace industries. Jet engines are a typical example of the application of this form of thermal spraying.