Process Control of Thermal Spraying Processes by Means of Acoustic Emission Analysis

This study demonstrates an experimental setup in which acoustic emission sensing is used to monitor a twin wire arc spraying (TWAS) process. Emitted acoustic signals were recorded by broadband sensors attached to the spray nozzle and mounted under the substrate. Sensor outputs were converted from the time domain to the frequency domain by fast Fourier analysis. Acoustic emission amplitude plots were produced and are correlated with gas pressure, arc voltage, in-flight particle velocity and temperature, coating thickness, and crack formation due to cooling.