This study investigates the effects of laser remelting on plasma sprayed YSZ thermal barrier coatings using a pulsed laser with and without induction preheating. It is shown that induction preheating decreases the laser threshold energy required for full remelting, which effectively reduces crack density. Induction preheating also helps in developing a steadier melt temperature and in decreasing thermal gradients between successive remelting passes. XRD analysis shows that it can reduce the amount of monoclinic phase as well.

This study demonstrates a new surface treatment for thermal barrier coatings that combines ultrasonic vibration and laser remelting and assesses its effect on crack distribution, surface morphology, and grain refinement. YSZ coating samples were vibrated at 20 kHz at different power levels while being irradiated by a Nd:YAG pulsed laser operated at 5.2 J and 6 J. SEM examination revealed a uniform distribution of segmented network cracks in treated samples, which are shown to play an important role in relieving stress and increasing strain tolerance in topcoat layers, thus improving fracture toughness and thermal cycle life. Another important finding is that visible ribbon-like loops induced by variations in surface tension were eliminated as a result of improved surface convection facilitated by ultrasonic vibration. At a vibration power of 520 W, coating surfaces were uniform and flat, but at 1300 W, undulations and trough geometries were observed. The results of XRD analysis indicate that tetragonal to monoclinic phase transformations are prevented when ultrasonic vibration power is greater than 780 W.

Nanostructured YSZ is expected to exhibit a high strain tolerability due to its low Young’s modulus and consequently high durability. In this study, a porous YSZ as the thermal barrier coating was deposited by plasma spraying using an agglomerated nanostructured YSZ powder on a Ni-based superalloy Inconel 738 substrate with a cold-sprayed nanostructured NiCrAlY as the bond coat. The heat treatment in Ar atmosphere was applied to the cold-sprayed bond coat before deposition of YSZ. The isothermal oxidation and thermal cycling tests were applied to examine failure modes of plasma-sprayed nanostructured YSZ. The results showed that YSZ coating was deposited by partially melted YSZ particles. The nonmelted fraction of spray particles retains the porous nanostructure of the starting powder into the deposit. YSZ coating exhibits a bimodal microstructure consisting of nanosized particles retained from the powder and micro-columnar grains formed through the solidification of the melted fraction in spray particles. The oxidation of the bond coat occurs during the heat treatment in Ar atmosphere. The uniform oxide at the interface between the bond coat and YSZ can be formed during isothermal test. The cracks were observed at the interface between TGO/BC or TGO/YSZ after thermal cyclic test. However, the failure of TBCs mainly occurred through spalling of YSZ within YSZ coating. The failure characteristics of plasma-sprayed nanostructured YSZ are discussed based on the coating microstructure and formation of TGO on the bond coat surface.

Nanostructured NiCrAlY coating was deposited by cold spray, using a milled powder for applications as a bond coat to thermal barrier coating. A shot-peening treatment was then applied to the as-sprayed coating to modify the coating surface morphology. The oxidation behavior of the coating with the shot-peened surface was investigated under isothermal oxidation at 900°C and 1,000°C for different times. The oxidation behavior of the coating was characterized through surface morphology and cross-sectional microstructure by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that a uniform oxide layer was formed on the surface of the shot-peened nanostructured NiCrAlY coating during oxidation at temperatures of 900°C and 1,000°C. The nanostructure of the initial coating possibly promoted rapid formation of α-Al 2 O 3 oxide. It was clearly revealed that the surface morphology of the coating significantly impacted the morphology of the oxide. The surface geometry of the cold-sprayed MCrAlY coating must be modified to promote formation of a protective oxide film during oxidation, through application of a post-treatment process such as shot-peening.

In this paper describes the design of the arc spray gun with secondary atomization, which using the mixture of propane and air as the main gas and the compressed air as the gas for secondary atomization. The test shows that in the high velocity airflow produced by the combustion of propane – air mixture, the atomized particle size is less than 20 micron. In the second- combustion thermal airflow, the high temperature area of the arc beam is obviously lengthened at the same time the combustion gas environment restrains the oxidation of the spraying materials. Because the speeds of particles are improved greatly, the coatings obtained are denser. Through practical application it shows that this system can obtain stable deposition efficiency, high bond strength, and low roughness and greatly reduce the cost of machining. Abstract only; no full-text paper available.

The balanced flow type condenser is one of important part used in the air-conditioner of automobile. The manufacture needs the surface of aluminum multi-void to be coated with zinc. One of economical and efficient process is the automatic wire arc spray, in which the maintain of temperature and the in-process speed can make key effects on the quality of coatings. The relation between substrate temperature and the composition, structure and corrosion resistance of the coating of aluminum multi-void are mainly discussed to confirm the best in-process speed of aluminum multi-void, the maintain of temperature and the parameters of arc spraying. Abstract only; no full-text paper available.

This paper discusses the basic design and operating characteristics of a precision heavy-duty thermal spray turntable. The system incorporates eccentricity and speed control and accommodates working pieces up to 100 mm in diameter and 2000 mm in height weighing as much as 1500 kg. Site tests, as reported in the paper, indicate that the turntable also meets dust and heat tolerance requirements.

Plasma transferred arc (PTA) welding is widely used in the petroleum and chemical industry to deposit nickel and cobalt-based materials on key parts for the purpose of surface modification. As test results show, the process improves corrosion, wear, and high-temperature resistance, prolonging the service life of components and equipment and reducing production costs.