Cold spray processing of stainless steel coatings, which represent a cost-effective method for wear and corrosion resistance, has been demonstrated as technically feasible. However, these coatings have very low tensile strength in the as-sprayed condition and may also exhibit a marginally higher wear rate. In this study, the cold spraying of 316L stainless steel coatings was investigated to assess the effect of powder size distribution and post-spray heat treatment on strength and wear properties. Coatings on aluminum and steel substrates were produced with a feedstock powder obtained in three particle size distributions. All coatings were deposited under the same conditions using nitrogen as the propellant gas, and then annealed at the optimum temperature. The microstructure and mechanical properties of both as-sprayed and heat-treated coatings were evaluated and the results are presented in the paper.

ln co-operation with industrial companies, education and training institutes, and universities, an interactive multimedia learn-ing programme was developed. The project was sponsored over three years by the European Community. Structure and contents of this programme are based on the EWF-guideline “European Thermal Sprayer - Minimum requirements for education and training”. The multimedia programme contains the module of theoretical basis of the training course and covers training subjects as spraying processes, base and spray materials, bonding mechanisms, coating characteristics, measuring and testing, environmental and safety aspects. The interactive multimedia programme may be used to shorten the duration of the ETS-course, for spray company internal education and training, for settling into a new job concerning thermal spray technique, or for supporting a training course itself. The multimedia programme will be demonstrated during the poster sessions. Paper text in German.

Air separation plants employ centrifugal compressors where air and electrical energy are the only raw materials used in the production process. In order to optimize compressor performance and efficiency, abradable coatings, originally developed for gas turbines, have been designed into turbocompressors. This paper describes the optimization and performance improvements achievable using aluminium silicon-boron nitride materials.

The use of thermal spraying processes as an alternative to industrial chromium plating has significantly increased in the past years. Advanced processes, such as APS and HVOF, have proven their efficiency with thick coating in chromium plating replacement, with cost advantage for coatings thicker than 5/10 mm. This article is the synthesis of different trials made with plasma and HVOF coatings. It includes the selection of materials for trial; a description of trial's equipment; friction and wear results; properties and metallography; and the cost comparison of plasma spraying and HVOF with other processes. It has been shown that thermal spray coatings, both APS and HVOF, can be used as chromium plating alternatives, with advantages in terms of wear resistance.