RF-Plasma Technology for Near Net-Shape Deposition

A chromium alloy as used for the metallic bipolar plate of a solid oxide fuel cell was processed by RF-plasma spraying to dense free-standing parts. The plasma spray parameters were successfully adapted for two different types of powder. The layer properties, particularly the porosity and the splat shape were investigated in dependence on the spray angles. All the coatings produced with off-normal spray angles show higher porosity increasing from spray angles of 60° to 30°. The splat orientation changes from parallel to the inclined surfaces to almost perpendicular to the plasma jet axis with shallower angles.