Influence of Carrier Gas Flow and Liquid Injection in the Plasma Jet on Plasma Characteristics During the Atmospheric Plasma Spray Process

The effect of argon carrier gas flow, ethanol- or water injection on the plasma-composition, -enthalpy and – temperature as well as on the entrainment from the ambient was investigated in comparison to the pure plasma condition of an Ar-H₂-plasma. Additionally, the plasma gas flow rate and power levels were varied. The enthalpy, and thus the plasma temperature, as well as the composition and speed are determined by means of an enthalpy probe system. Spatial resolved data could be obtained by translating the torch via a robot so that a temperature and speed map shows the evolution of plasma features with increasing stand-off distance.