The HVAF process provides a slightly different (to HVOF and other thermal spray processes) and unique combination of thermal and kinetic energy, which presents a technical challenge to material manufacturers who have over the past years optimized their material offerings to the demands and characteristics of plasma, combustion and more recently the various HVOF processes. The recent development of HVAF ID torches, capable of applying the highest quality coatings into dimensions of less than 100mm (4”), has provided a further need to optimize spray materials for the best possible interaction between the spray device and the feedstock in order to meet developing coating specifications from various industries. This paper will discuss the methodologies utilized from the points of view of torch design, material manufacture, spray parameter and procedure optimization, as a means of producing the highest performing coatings to meet specific industry aspirations.

In this study, WC-CoCr coatings are deposited on grit-blasted steel substrates by high-velocity airfuel (HVAF) spraying. A cross-sectional image of the feedstock powder shows that the WC grains are evenly distributed in the Co-Cr matrix. As-sprayed coating cross-sections are examined under different levels of magnification, coating hardness is measured, and coating and powder phases are analyzed by XRD. In addition, the corrosion behavior of coated and uncoated substrates is analyzed and compared with a reference hard chrome coating.

Recent developments of High-Velocity Air-Fuel (HVAF) spraying and blasting focused on a substantial increase of spray particles velocity. The efforts further improved coating quality, allowing deposition of metallic and carbide-base coatings non-permeable to gas at thickness as low as 40-50 micron. The coatings demonstrate low dissolved oxygen content, a favorable combination of high hardness and toughness. Coupled with the enhanced technological efficiency of modern HVAF equipment, this initiated not only the acceptance of HVAF technologies in established thermal spray markets in the oil and gas industry, but also the development and successful implementation of new coating applications. The examples are wear and corrosion resistant tungsten carbide-based coatings on hydraulics rods of dock cranes, corrosion resistant Ni-Cr-Mo-type coatings on vessels of sulfur removal equipment, tungsten carbide coatings on restriction grid plates and slide gates of catalyst towers, high-temperature erosion resistant chromium carbide- based coatings on thermowells and valve stems, wear and cavitation resistant Co-Cr-W-C-type and carbide coatings on housing wear rings and impeller hubs of high-temperature pumps.

Activated Combustion HVAF (AC-HVAF) spraying provides efficient deposition of metallic and carbide coatings using solid particle spray technology. Oxidation and thermal deterioration of sprayed materials is significantly reduced, resulting in improved quality of coatings. Resistance of different WC-Co and WC-Co-Cr AC-HVAF coatings to abrasive wear was investigated using ASTM G-65 test. It was found that the AC-HVAF hardware setup, type of fuel gas and spray parameters affected deposition efficiency but not wear resistance of coatings. Herewith, the method of powder manufacturing revealed significant influence on coating wear resistance. The AC-HVAF sprayed coatings were compared to HVOF-sprayed counterparts, as well as to hard surfacing and chrome plating. The AC-HVAF sprayed coatings were efficient in competing with modern surfacing technologies in many industrial applications.

In Activated Combustion HVAF process, coatings are formed of powder particles, heated and accelerated by high-velocity jet of air and gaseous fuel combustion products. A distinguished feature of the process is that spray particles are heated below their melting point while accelerated to velocity well above 700 m/s. Such spray scheme appeared beneficial for deposition of cemented carbides, in particular, WC-based composites. Dense, practically non-oxidized neither heat-deteriorated coatings were formed. Spray rates from 1 to 25 kg/hr were achieved without decline of coating quality or deposition efficiency. Specific coating structure resulted in noticeably improved resistance to fatigue at high level of stresses.

HVAF Arc process deposited coatings of dual wire stock, fused by an electric arc and atomized by a high-velocity jet of air and gaseous fuel combustion products. The HVAF jet was generated in toroidal chamber, where a hot catalytic insert activated the combustion process. Such atomization produced fine, 5-20 micron, spray particles accelerated to over 200 m/s. Excess of fuel in the arc zone prevented rapid oxidation of fused material. The process is specifically beneficial for deposition of high-quality coatings of aluminum, corrosion resistant nickel-base alloys and hardface Fe-Cr-B-C cored wires.

Activated Combustion HVAF Spraying (AC-HVAF) involves a jet of air-fuel combustion products to deposit coatings of metallic and carbide powders. In the process, spray particles are heated below their melting temperature while accelerated to velocity typically 700-850 m/s, forming a coating upon impact with a substrate. Extremely low oxygen content and high density are distinguished features of the AC-HVAF coatings, resulting in their excellent performance under conditions of severe wear and corrosion. Besides new level of coating quality, the AC-HVAF process demonstrates outstanding technological efficiency and spray rates 5-10 times exceeding those of the HVOF counterparts. The paper presents results on characterization of selected metallic and carbide coatings and describes their applications.

The poblems of metal-titanium carbide coatings processing by air, low pressure and underwater plasma as well as high velocity oxygen fuel spraying are under consideration. Among the different methods of metal-TiC powders production, like mixing of carbides with scale structure metals, agglomeration with binders, a matter of special interest is the high temperature synthesis of TiC in presence of metallic alloy. The characteristic features of these materials include the carbide phases forming, their bonding with the alloy and reactions during spraying, grain size and their distribution, alloy behavior during synthesis and spraying. Finally, the abrasive wear and erosion resistance of Al-Si/TiC, Fe-Cr/TiC and Ni-Cr/TiC coatings is analyzed.