Abstract
To avoid the constraints due to the conventional surface preparation before thermal spraying (degreasing and sand-blasting), the PROTAL process was developed implementing a Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser with a very short pulse duration to prepare the surface simultaneously to the coating buildup. Until now interesting results were obtained both from the adhesion and economical points of view. Specific parameters were developed according to the spraying process (APS, HVOF, wire arc), the powder (Cu alloy, Al2O3, WC-Co, ...) as well as the part nature (Ni alloy, Magnesium, steel, aluminium alloys, etc.). Considering the wide development of thermal spray applications in the automotive industry, new developments of the PROTAL process were considered in order to reach the feasibility of an internal laser treatment of the parts. After a presentation of the implementation of a new laser head in the thermal spray environment, some results concerning the case of a metallic coating (ferrous alloy) on a metallic part (aluminium alloy) will be presented.
