Abstract
The thermomechanical properties of plasma-sprayed deposits strongly depend on residual stress distribution. This latter is mainly attributed to the relative torch/substrate velocity as well as to the cooling system location and efficiency. The determining of both quenching and thermal stresses, which are generated respectively during spraying stage and cooling stage, is then required to improve coatings quality. A rather simple apparatus, which consists in monitoring the curvature of a beam substrate during the whole deposition process, has been developed to work under industrial conditions. It has been applied to partially stabilized zirconia coatings performed onto stainless steel and cast iron substrates. Spraying temperature and plasma gun velocity have been selected as relevant parameters for this study about stress generation and mechanical release. Finally, four point bend tests have been performed on deposited samples to measure coating mechanical properties and to evaluate damage level.
