The distinguishing feature of the cold spray process, when compared with the conventional thermal spray process, is its ability to produce coatings with high-velocity rather than high-temperature particle jet. This article provides an overview of the cold spray process and the parameters that affect both the process deposition efficiency and properties of the prepared coatings. It describes a variety of cold spray coating materials, namely, pure metals, ferrous and nonferrous metal alloys, composites, and cermets. The article presents various industrial applications of cold spray coatings.

Significant expansion of thermal spray technology occurred with the invention of plasma spray, detonation gun, and high-velocity oxyfuel (HVOF) deposition technologies. This article provides a brief history of the major initiating inventions/developments of thermal spray processes. It provides information on feedstock materials developed for specific thermal spray processes.

This article describes the benefits that can be achieved by using thermal spray on particular engine parts of an automobile. These include improvement in fuel consumption, wear resistance and bonding, and reduction of oil consumption, exhaust heat loss, and cooling heat loss. Typical engine parts are cylinder blocks, cylinder bores, cast iron cylinder liners, piston rings, connecting rod bearings, turbochargers, engine valve lifters, exhaust system parts, and oxygen sensors. The article also describes the benefits of using thermal spray on transmission parts such as synchronizer rings and torque converters.

This article describes the technology of thermal spraying with regard to tribological applic