The super-elasticity behavior of a NiTi-shape memory alloy (SMA) is very promising regarding cavitation resistance. The need of high vacuum conditions by thermal spraying processes, to avoid oxidation, has always been and still is the main obstacle for the widespread of NiTi as a coating material. This work deals with studying the effect of the different shroud concepts on the obtained oxide content and the phases of the obtained twin wire arc sprayed (TWAS) coatings. The concepts include the use of argon as a shield in gas shroud (GS) as well as the use of an extended air cap attachment as a massive shroud (MS). The use of MS-concept led to a significant decrease in oxide content and therefore was selected to spray pre-alloyed NiTi-SMA wires. The standoff distance between the MS-outlet and the substrate surface shows also an effect on the obtained phases and thus on the behavior of the obtained coatings. At lower standoff distance a pseudo-elastic behavior was obtained and therefore a higher cavitation and wear resistance. The use of argon as atomization and shield gas with a massive shroud could be a cost-effective alternative for vacuum process in case of spraying NiTi-SMA pre-alloyed feedstock materials.

Diamond films have been deposited on WC - 6% Co hard metal tools by the DC plasma jet CVD synthesis. The parameters of the process (gas composition, temperature of the gas phase and the substrate, process pressure) as well as of the substrate surface (material, pretreatment) are related to the diamond film growth. For machining abrasive materials the hard and wear resistant diamond coatings must adhere good to the substrate. The wear behaviour of thin diamond films on hard metals under cavitation treatment has been examined. Thus the conditions of diamond synthesis have been varied especially concerning the coating duration and the process pressure and engineering. The cavitation test reacts more sensitive to coating defects of pm size than the conventional testing methods (scratch test, indenter method) and considers the microstructure of the material. Paper text in German.