This study assesses the erosive wear performance of hard-phase-reinforced coatings developed for use on hammer drills employed in mining operations. Several laser-clad coatings consisting of a nickel matrix with various tungsten carbides were evaluated along with two Fe-based alloys, FeCrBSi and FeCrNiBSi, and a WC-CoCr reference layer deposited by HVOF spraying. Erosion tests were conducted in 15° steps up to an angle of 90° and coating performance was determined based on volume loss obtained by 3D profilometry. At low angles, the more brittle materials lost significantly less volume, but at 90°, wear-resistant steel performs almost as well as a hard-phase loaded coating. Laser-clad layers with spherical fused tungsten carbides (FTC) performed better overall than coatings with regular (angular) FTC.

Several polymeric coatings, including flame sprayed polyethylene (PE), were evaluated for use in parts of natural gas pipelines. The components of interest were for instance large valves, T-joints, weld joints of pipes and pipe bends. More than 30 different coatings were selected to laboratory scale testing and evaluation. After first preliminary tests, the most potential coatings were selected further for more detailed and long term laboratory scale studies. After these tests were finished, one coating concept, i.e. fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) + flame sprayed PE, was prepared on a small natural gas valve body for demonstration purposes. Besides this coating concept, also some other coatings, e.g. liquid epoxy + flame sprayed PE and some polyurethane coatings were found to be potential coatings for the application. The test methods and results are presented in this paper.

The ASM Thermal Spray Society Recommended Practices Committee, through its Subcommittee on Safety, is responsible for the development and dissemination of practical recommendations for thermal spraying work. This paper discusses the guidance set forth in the “Recommended Practice for the Handling and Usage of Gases in Thermal Spraying,” which deals with the installation, operation, and maintenance of gas equipment used in spraying processes. It summarizes the hazards associated with compressed gases and high-pressure cylinders and presents precautionary measures to reduce the risks. Paper includes a German-language abstract.

An important aspect in the successful commercialisation of thermal spray processing is a safe and cost efficient gas supply system. As coating techniques such as High Velocity Oxygen Fuel spraying, (HVOF) High Pressure Plasma spraying (HPPS), High Pressure High Velocity Oxygen Fuel kerosene based systems (HPHVOF) and the recent developments in Cold Gas Dynamic spraying become more prominent, so the requirements on existing standard gas delivery systems designed for less demanding applications such as flame and plasma spraying need to be up-rated and improved. This work highlights recent developments in gas safety supply equipment dedicated to the thermal spray sector, the use of gas detectors in thermal spray workshops, more cost efficient gas delivery systems for fuel gases such as hydrogen, LPG propane, propylene and acetylene, and also covers improvements in gas delivery systems for the process gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon. The paper looks at various gas supply options, comparing compressed gas cylinders, liquid gas cylinders and bulk liquid supply vessels outlining the benefits and limitations of each systems in relation to the individual spray techniques. The higher pressures and flow rate associated with the growth of kerosene based fuel guns has resulted in an increased demand on the conventional compressed oxygen supply systems making them less cost effective and unworkable in a production environment. The paper covers new liquid oxygen supply cylinders and novel bulk tank systems that reduce cylinder holdings while reducing gas wastage due to lack of pressure. With the increase in higher thermal energy systems, necessity to more closely control the temperature of sprayed the component has outstretched the demands on conventional compressed air cooling systems. In the past, the use of cryogenic cooling gases such as carbon dioxide has been restricted by increased cost. However it has been shown in a number of cases that often the hidden costs of running air compressors, including the use of moisture traps, and oil filters can be greater than using clean, high purity cryogenic liquid gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The paper outlines the details of such cooling systems. The commercial success of Cold Gas Dynamic spraying may in future rely on a cost efficient, high pressure and high volume gas delivery systems for either helium or nitrogen. The paper describes a novel high pressure supply system presently used in another application suitable for Cold Gas Dynamic spraying with nitrogen able to generate pressure in-excess of 30 bar and flow rates above 120m3/hr from a liquid vessel.

Polymer injection is an effective technique for increasing oil production in the later stage of petroleum exploitation. The pumps used typically incorporate ceramic plungers because they do not produce metal ions which tend to decrease polymer viscosity. This paper compares the performance of plasma sprayed and sintered alumina plungers and includes the results of stress analysis using finite elements and field testing. Under real working conditions, plasma sprayed plungers achieved an average lifetime of 12,000 hours, approximately double that of their sintered ceramic counterparts.

The last decade has seen a rapid increase in the use of Thermally Sprayed Coatings for Oil and Gas production applications. In particular, since 1982 the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry has considered Thermally Sprayed Aluminum (TSA) for protection of steel structures in the splash zone and other areas in the marine environment. Experience to date has indicated that when TSA is properly applied with a specific sealer system a service life in excess of 30 years with zero maintenance is possible. This produces a corresponding reduction in life cycle costs. Other coating systems such as nickel-based alloys, ceramics and thermoplastics are also finding useful applications. This paper discusses recent advances in thermal spraying technology and current and future applications in the Oil and Gas Industry. This is illustrated with reference to several projects and details on life cycle costs. In particular, thermal spraying of pressure vessels, risers, pipelines and structural components are detailed.