Gas and Particle Investigations During Wire Arc Spraying Process

This study investigates the effect of different gas compositions on the size, velocity, and temperature of particles in a wire arc gas jet. In the experiments, two wire materials (316L and G3Si1) were sprayed via compressed air, nitrogen, and a nitrogen-hydrogen mixture and high-speed shadow imaging was used to record in-flight particle characteristics. Deposition efficiency was also measured along with the hardness and oxide content of the coatings. The spraying process, equipment, and test methods employed in the study are described and the results are presented and discussed.