In this work, alumina coatings are produced by air plasma spraying (APS) using dense powders ranging in size from 3 to 36 µm and one porous powder with an average particle size of 33 µm. Two spray systems were used, one rated at 40 kW, the other at 100 kW. The powders were applied to grit-blasted Al 6061 and low-carbon steel substrates. Coatings applied to Al 6061 using the high-power sprayer and 3 µm powder peeled off, likely due to thermal shock and mismatch. For all other coatings, the microstructure was examined by cross-sectional SEM, porosity was estimated via optical microscopy, and dielectric strength and volume resistivity were measured. Coatings formed from 3 µm powder were found to be dense with a mostly γ-phase crystal structure. Surprisingly, however, their volume resistivity was lower than that of more porous coatings with high amounts of α-phase. The findings show that, in the case of resistivity, spray equipment has a bigger influence than particle size, but with coating density, the opposite is true.

In order to clarify the effects of two kinds of laser irradiation on plasma sprayed alumina coatings, microstructure, crystallization and mechanical properties of the spacemen were examined and heat conduction in the laser irradiation processes were analyzed by a finite element method. One is CW CO 2 laser irradiation of low power density, and the other is pulse excimer laser irradiation of high intensity but low energy density. Al 2 O 3 coatings were irradiated by CO 2 laser with low intensity, fine structure formation composed of α- Al 2 O 3 was confirmed and the surface roughness was improved although the hardness decreased a little. The modified layer was corresponding to the area that was heated above 1000 to 1100°C in the calculated maximum temperature distribution. It was also confirmed that the excimer laser pulse has a potential to improve the properties of surface layer to a depth of several micrometers.

Three-dimensional molecular dynamics simulation was conducted to clarify at an atomic level the flattening process of a high-temperature droplet impacting a substrate at high speed. The droplet and the substrate were assumed to consist of pure aluminum, and the Morse potential was postulated between a pair of aluminum atoms. In this report, the influences of the impact parameters, such as the droplet velocity and the droplet diameter on its flattening behavior were analyzed. As a result, following representative conclusions were obtained: (1) the flattening ratio increases in proportion to the droplet velocity and the droplet diameter; (2) the flattening ratio for nanosized droplet can be rearranged by the same dimensionless parameters of the proper physical properties, such as the viscosity and the surface tension, as those used in the macroscopic flattening process.

The shielding controlled plasma spraying process is investigated to improve corrosion resistance of the metal surface. In this process, a shielding nozzle that covers just the spraying area is attached in front of the tip of a commercial plasma spray gun nozzle, and the environment surrounding the plasma jet is controlled by nitrogen flow. As the oxygen concentration in the shielding nozzle is maintained as low as 0.5%, the metal oxide contents in volume of CoNiCrAlY coating and the porosity of the coating reduced to 0.2% and 0.3% respectively under optimal spray particle size. The corrosion potential of CoNiCrAlY coating sprayed by this process in an acid solution including chloride ions is staying about -150 mV for 1000 hours, and no rust is observed during this test. On the other hand, that of the coating sprayed by atmospheric plasma spraying process changes from about -300 mV to about -500mV for 1000 hours, and the rust comes to the surface of the coating after 10 hours. Therefore the developed shielding controlled plasma spraying process is concluded to improve the corrosion of the metal.

In order to clarify the flattening process of the high-temperature and high-speed droplet due to its impact on the substrate in an atomic level, several three-dimensional molecular dynamics simulations were conducted. The droplet and the substrate were assumed to consist of pure aluminum, and Morse potential was postulated between a pair of aluminum atoms. By visualizing the analytical result, the processes of melting and solidification, temperature distribution, deformation velocity and shape of the droplet were clarified. As a result, following conclusions were obtained: (1) The transfer of the droplet atoms to the horizontal direction in flattening process increases in proportion to the horizontal distance from the central axis of the droplet. (2) The solidification of the droplet starts from the outside edge of the droplet, and finishes as the flattening ratio increases. Such solidification behavior is different from the results analyzed with a continuum model on the assumption that the flattening finishes when the half volume of the droplet solidifies.

In order to utilize the blasting process for preparing surfaces of precision products, the factors affecting the work piece distortion and the degree of the distortion were investigated. The long and flat shaped specimens of the different materials and the thickness were blasted, and the phenomena induced by the blasting were investigated. In the result, almost the linear relationship between the surface roughness and the maximum deflection existed. In addition, the equivalent load was applied to the simple model of the distortion, and the correlative expression among the maximum deflection, the specimen's size, and the equivalent load was deduced. The results made it possible to select and design beforehand the products, and to optimize the blasting condition.

New composite materials thermally spray powder is developed in order to protect the surface of boiler tube while long period more than up to this time. This powder is so constitute that original sermet is organized from several bolides and inter metallic compounds (patent pending applied for). For the reliable electric power supply, the steam generating boiler is important facility still today. And in boiler operation, one of the most significant problems is the prevention of boiler tube failure. The main destructive processes that ravage boiler tubes are corrosion and erosion. During the last several years, thermally sprayed coating has been applied to the surfaces of boiler tubes. Accordingly, this paper reports on the effects of this developed powder’s coating as compared with these conventional coatings on the prevention of these hot abrasion are tested in laboratory.

Rotating bending fatigue tests have been conducted at room temperature in laboratory air using specimens of medium carbon steel (S45C), low alloy steel (SCM435) and titanium alloy (Ti-6AI-4V) with HVOF sprayed coating of a cermet (WC-12%Co) and S45C with WFS sprayed coating of a 13Cr steel (SUS420J2). Plane bending fatigue tests were also conducted at stress ratios, R, of -1, -0.5 and 0 for S45C with WC-12%Co coating. The fatigue strength and fracture mechanisms were studied. The fatigue strength evaluated by nominal stress was strongly influenced by substrate materials, R and the thickness of sprayed coatings. Detailed observation of crack initiation on the coating surface and fracture surface revealed that a crack was initiated in the coating and then cracks were initiated in the substrate due to the stress concentration of the crack in the coating. The fatigue strength of the sprayed materials was dominated by that of the sprayed coating. Therefore, the fatigue strength could be evaluated uniquely in terms of the true stress on the coating surface. The influence of compressive residual stress of the sprayed coatings on fatigue strength was discussed based on the fatigue mechanisms at different stress ratios.

The unusual effects of plasma sprayed coating on the fire-side of evaporator tubes located in an oil-fired steam generating boiler are discussed. The main heat transfer surfaces are constructed by heat exchanger tubes, evaporator tubes and superheaters. Maintenance to prevent of the boiler failure or the preserve heat exchanger effectiveness is a very important factor in the operation of boiler facilities. In a boiler which employs heavy gravity oil as a fuel, plasma sprayed Ni-Cr alloy has often been applied to boiler tubes for the relief of hot corrosion by combustion gas. However, the circulation of boiler water causes an internal deposit to form on the inner wall of evaporator tubes. The internal deposit generates excess heat load against the tubes. As the overheating of the tubes often causes the evaporator tubes to fail, they are chemically cleaned periodically. In this paper, the influence of Ni-Cr plasma sprayed coating for the heat flux, which dominates the formation of the internal deposit, is investigated. Ni-Cr plasma sprayed coating is substitutionally hot corrosion resistant and is a composite coating into which the fuel ash containing a vanadium or sulfur compound are interstitially penetrated and solidified. It is derived that the existence of the coating on the fire-side of the evaporator tubes normalizes the heat load in their inner walls. Moreover, the suppression of internal deposit formation decreases the frequency of chemical cleaning for tubes. The dual effects of plasma sprayed coating for hot corrosion resistance in the fire side and the suppression of internal deposit on the water side of the tubes are reported.