The physico-chemical and thermo-mechanical properties of aluminosilicate ceramics (high melting point, low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent thermal shock resistance, low density and good corrosion resistance) make this class of materials a good option for high temperature structural applications. Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 compounds show an excellent refractory behaviour allowing a wide use as wear resistant thermal barrier coatings, in metallurgical and glass plants and in high temperature heat exchangers. Moreover the low values of thermal expansion coefficient and of complex permittivity allow to extend the use of this ceramic for microelectronic devices, radome for antennas and electromagnetic windows for microwaves and infrared. The present paper presents the results of an extensive experimental activity carried out to produce thick aluminosilicate coatings by plasma spray technique. APS deposition parameters were optimized on the basis of a surface response approach, as specified by design of experiments (DoE) methodologies. Samples were tested for phase composition, total porosity, microstructure, microhardness, deposition efficiency, fracture toughness and modulus of rupture. Finally, coatings were characterized for their particularly interesting electromagnetic properties: complex permittivity was measured at microwave frequency using a network analyzer with wave guide.

In this investigation, titanium layers with different titanium nitride phases are deposited via reactive gas plasma spraying using a statistical design-of-experiments approach to determine the effect of process parameters on coating properties. The layers are characterized by various means, showing how nitrogen concentration in the plasma gas, spraying pressure, and substrate temperature correspond with coating hardness, porosity, and nitriding levels. The values of all layer properties were found to increase with increasing nitrogen content in either the plasma gas or spraying atmosphere. Paper includes a German-language abstract.

The appropriate selection of bulk materials and coatings of valve components, is an important factor for the economic success of oil and gas production activities in petrochemical field. Materials and coatings are important because particle erosion and surface wear is associated to corrosion by hydrogen sulphide during oil and gas flow. The wear of high pressure valves of gas system will lead to pollution, safety problem and cost increases. The most popular solution of these problems is the deposition of hard material like tungsten carbide or chromium carbide by thermal spray. Particularly these coatings are deposed by HVOF (High Velocity Oxygen Fuel) to obtain a very high hardness with excellent cohesion and adhesion. Tungsten carbide cobalt-chromium based coating, chromium carbide nickel-chromium coating as well as Inconel 625 are adopted actually in the specifications of the industrial petrochemical companies and their behavior and wear, erosion and corrosion properties are reported in literature. This paper addresses the study and surface analysis and characterization of alternative coatings such as NiAl and composite material WC / intermetallic compounds containing mainly Ni, Cr, Co and Mo. The best parameters to produce these coatings has been found by implementing a DOE and the obtained coatings have been systematically submitted to corrosion and functional tests based on the determination of the behaviour of the thermal spray coatings in an atmosphere of H 2 S and CO 2 [1] and to wear and erosion test according to ASTM G75-95; removed material weight and usured surface damages have been determined. Furthermore the coatings have been completely characterized before and after the tests from the point of view of the structure (porosity, coating cohesion and adhesion, hardness, wear) and of the surface properties by means of a prototype 3- dimensional stylus micro-topography surface analysis system. Their corrosion and functional behaviour have been finally compared with the behaviour of the above mentioned coatings applied at present as standard in the petrochemical sector. The results state that WC/intermetallic compound could be a good substitute of IN625 for certain kind of application where good antierosion behaviour is requested.