Abstract
Properties and characteristics of a material depend mainly upon its morphological structure. In the case of plasma sprayed deposits, the properties (i.e., mechanical, thermal, electrical, etc.) are especially related to the deposit void content. Voids are coming from pores, cracks and delaminations. Implementing image analysis and stereological protocols, the apparent void content (AVC) of a vacuum plasma sprayed deposit was studied, in terms of the pore size distribution and spatial distribution. Results were compared with data obtained implementing water immersion porosimetry. This study showed on the one hand that the pore size distribution is described by a bimodale function, and, on the other hand, that pores are spatially distributed evenly within the deposit (isotropic distribution). In such a condition, the stereological protocol can be implemented on a single random plane section of the deposit.
