Various methods of making metallic foams and sponges have been studied, although the materials have not yet been put to commercial use. For foams produced using powder metallurgy, this is largely due to the poor surface quality and limited wear resistance. With thermal spray coatings, however, the foams can be upgraded to lightweight composites with defined surfaces, high wear resistance, and significantly increased strength. In this paper, commercial aluminum foams with closed cells and a closed foaming skin are coated with metal and ceramic layers by means of electric arc and plasma spraying. The coated foams are characterized based on their microstructure and the results of uniaxial compression testing. Paper includes a German-language abstract.

This paper deals with the removal of thermal sprayed coatings. It describes chemical, mechanical, thermal, and erosive and abrasive waterjet coating removal processes. Plain waterjet and cryogenic techniques reduce the risk of damaging the substrate or bond layers because they are more selective and precise. In cases where thermal induced diffusion processes have changed the bond characteristics between the coating and substrate, the use of selective mechanisms tends to be limited. Paper includes a German-language abstract.

This paper discusses the development of silicon carbide (SiC) composite powders for HVOF spraying. It describes the material properties of various carbides, examines the morphology of SiC powders, and presents the HVOF parameters typically used to spray SiC composite coatings. It also examines the microstructure and composition of SiC nickel and cobalt-base composite coatings and investigates their corrosion and wear behaviors. Paper includes a German-language abstract.