Abstract
It is known that particles injected in a plasma stream follow differing trajectories which in turn leads to different thermal and kinetic history dependent on the location of particle in the plume. The variation in particle characteristics (temperature and velocity) across the plume has been the focus of research over the years. The corresponding variation in impacting particles, particularly in terms of their splat characteristics have not been explored as systematically. This is important for a complete understanding of the coating build-up phenomena and the variations in coating properties. This paper presents the results of a study in which the spatial variation in particle properties is mapped to the spatial variation in splat properties. This has been accomplished using a procedure to collect splats using a shutter mechanism that allows us to expose the substrate for approximately 50 milliseconds. Splats of Alumina and a Ni- Cr-B-Si-Mo have been collected on polished substrates maintained at 250ºC and studied. Micrographs reveal differing splat morphologies across the spray plume – from missing-cores in one part to complete disc-shaped splats in the other. Extent of flattening and fragmentation have been quantified and found to vary within the ‘splat map’. Correlation between the location of particle in the plume and the resulting splat has been constructed using this data. Abstract only; no full-text paper available.
