This paper examines the dielectric properties of silicate coatings including mullite (3Al 2 O 3 -2SiO 2 ), steatite (MgSiO3), spodumene (Li 2 O-Al 2 O 3 -4SiO 2 ), and olivine with near-forsterite (Mg 2 SiO 4 ) composition. The materials were sprayed using a water-stabilized plasma gun and the deposits were removed from the substrate, polished, and sputtered with aluminum on both sides. Electrical tests consisting of voltage, resistance, and capacitance measurements showed that the relative conductivity of plasma-sprayed silicates is stable between 200 Hz and 1 MHz, which is suitable for many insulation applications. Paper includes a German-language abstract.

In this paper, a quantitative model of the viscous behavior of two-phase particles hitting a substrate is used to optimize a plasma spraying process for silicon-nitride composite layers. The model is derived from the observed behavior of Si 3 N 4 -YAS (Y 2 O 3 -Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 ) layers and provides a basis for further study of ceramic-matrix composite layers. Paper includes a German-language abstract.

Stoichiometric cordierite (2MgO-2Al2O3-5SiO2) with additions of titania have been investigated for use as coatings on low thermal expansion refractory concretes. These concretes have coefficients of thermal expansion on the order of 2 ppm/°C. Titania additions of up to 8 mole percent were investigated and the effect of titania in the crystallization of cordierite was examined. Cordierite coatings were air plasma sprayed and both glass and crystalline coatings were produced. The crystalline structure of the coating was found to be dependent upon the preheat temperature of the substrate. Preheats greater than 700 °C produced a mixture of a quartz solid solution and indialite whereas glass coatings were produced at preheats less than 700 °C. Coefficients of thermal expansion for the cordierite materials were dependent upon titania addition and generally increased with addition of titania. In the glass state, the thermal expansion was modestly increased (4.6 to 4.9 ppm/°C) with titania additions, but the quartz and indialite forms of the cordierite increased from 1.2 to 4.7 ppm/°C as the titania addition increased from 0 to 8 mole percent.

The plasma-spray process is specified by the associated processing parameters, where these influence the properties of the resultant deposits. This article describes the preparation and processing of composite powders for use in thermal spraying by mixing high purity zircon and alumina powders. The spheroidized powder were obtained by high energy ball milling and rapid solidification from the molten state during plasma spraying. The article discusses the processes involved in spray drying and plasma spheroidization, describing thermal analysis and mullitization kinetics in the spheroidized alumina/zircon mixtures.

This paper compares the wear properties of HVOF-sprayed WC/12Co hardcoatings produced from different powder feedstock materials, including conventional, nanophase, and mixed powders. The mixed or multimodal feed powder is designed to minimize the amount of material that goes through a high temperature cycle during spraying, thus potentially limiting the extent of decarburization in the resulting coating. As will be shown, decarburization is indeed minimal in a multimodal coating, which translates into exceptional resistance to abrasive and sliding wear. Another favorable factor is the ability to increase the volume fraction of hard WC phase in such a coating, thereby further enhancing its wear resistance.