Industrial Applications for Polymer Coatings with Release Properties in Combination with Thermal Spray Coatings

Release or nonstick properties are not typically achieved through thermal spraying because of the high surface energy of the resulting deposit. Polymer coatings can provide release properties but are low in durability. However, by adding a nonstick low-friction polymer or release topcoat to a hard metal matrix deposit, a variety of properties can be incorporated in the coating solution. This paper explains how such coatings are produced and examines the tradeoffs involved in the selection of materials. It presents numerous examples of successful industrial applications and introduces an accelerated test that has been developed to predict release performance over the life of the coating which correlates well to field conditions.