Numerical Study of Suspension HVOF Spray and Particle Behavior Near Flat and Cylindrical Substrates

In thermal spray processes, it is demonstrated that substrate shape and location have significant effects on particle in-flight behavior and coatings quality. In the present work, the suspension high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying process is modeled using a three-dimensional two-way coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian approach. Flat and cylindrical substrates are placed at different standoff distances, and particles characteristics near the substrates and upon impact are studied. Suspension is a mixture of ethanol, ethylene glycol, and mullite solid powder (3Al₂O₃·2SiO₂) in this study. Suspension droplets with predefined size distribution are injected into the combustion chamber, and the droplet breakup phenomenon is simulated using Taylor analogy breakup model. Furthermore, the eddy dissipation model is used to model the premixed combustion of oxygen–propylene, and non-premixed combustion of oxygen–ethanol and oxygen–ethylene glycol. To simulate the gas phase turbulence, the realizable k–ε model is applied. In addition, as soon as the breakup and combustion phenomena are completed, the solid/molten mullite particles are tracked through the domain. It is shown that as the standoff distance increases the particle temperature and velocity decrease and the particle trajectory deviation becomes more significant. The effect of stagnation region on the particle velocity and temperature is also discussed in detail. The catch rate, which is defined as the ratio of the mass of landed particles to injected particles, is calculated for different substrate shapes and standoff distances in this study. The numerical results presented here is consistent with the experimental data in the literature for the same operating conditions.     

Three-Dimensional Modeling of Suspension Plasma Spraying with Arc Voltage Fluctuations

In this study, a three-dimensional DC plasma torch is modeled using Joule effect method to simulate the plasma jet and its voltage fluctuations. The plasma gas is a mixture of argon/hydrogen, and the arc voltage fluctuation is used as an input data in the model. Reynolds stress model is used for time-dependent simulation of the oscillating flow of the plasma gas interacting with the ambient air. The results are used to investigate the plasma oscillation effects on the trajectory, temperature, and velocity of suspension droplets. Suspensions are formed of ethanol and yttria-stabilized zirconia submicron particles and modeled as multicomponent droplets. To track the droplets/particles, a two-way coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian method is employed. In addition, in order to simulate the droplet breakup, Kelvin–Helmholtz/Rayleigh–Taylor (KH–RT) breakup model is used. After the completion of suspension breakup and evaporation, the sprayed particles are tracked to obtain the in-flight particle conditions including trajectory, size, velocity, and temperature. The arc voltage fluctuations were found to cause more than two times wider particle trajectories resulting in wider particle temperature, velocity, and size distributions compared with the case of constant voltage.     

Numerical Simulation of Droplet Breakup and Collision in the Solution Precursor Plasma Spraying

Finely structured ceramic coatings can be obtained by solution precursor plasma spraying. The final structure of the coating highly depends on the droplet size and velocity distribution at the injection, the evolution of the spray in the jet, and droplet breakup and collision within the spray. This article describes a 3D model to simulate the transport phenomena and the trajectory and heating of the solution spray in the process. O’Rourke’s droplet collision model is used to take into account the influence of droplet collision. The influence of droplet breakup is also considered by implementing TAB droplet breakup models into the plasma jet model. The effects of droplet collisions and breakup on the droplet size, velocity, and temperature distribution of the solution spray are investigated. The results indicate that droplet breakup and collision play an important role in determining the final particle size and velocity distributions on the substrate. This article is an invited paper selected from presentations at the 2007 International Thermal Spray Conference and has been expanded from the original presentation. It is simultaneously published in Global Coating Solutions, Proceedings of the 2007 International Thermal Spray Conference, Beijing, China, May 14-16, 2007, Basil R. Marple, Margaret M. Hyland, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Chang-Jiu Li, Rogerio S. Lima, and Ghislain Montavon, Ed., ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2007.     

Numerical Analysis of Multicomponent Suspension Droplets in High-Velocity Flame Spray Process

The liquid feedstock or suspension as a different mixture of liquid fuel ethanol and water is numerically studied in high-velocity suspension flame spray (HVSFS) process, and the results are compared for homogenous liquid feedstock of ethanol and water. The effects of mixture on droplet aerodynamic breakup, evaporation, combustion, and gas dynamics of HVSFS process are thoroughly investigated. The exact location where the particle heating is initiated (above the carrier liquid boiling point) can be controlled by increasing the water content in the mixture. In this way, the particle inflight time in the high-temperature gas regions can be adjusted avoiding adverse effects from surface chemical transformations. The mixture is modeled as a multicomponent droplet, and a convection/diffusion model, which takes into account the convective flow of evaporating material from droplet surface, is used to simulate the suspension evaporation. The model consists of several sub-models that include premixed combustion of propane-oxygen, non-premixed ethanol-oxygen combustion, modeling of multicomponent droplet breakup and evaporation, as well as heat and mass transfer between liquid droplets and gas phase.     

Parametric Study on Suspension Behavior in an Inductively Coupled Plasma

Numerical analysis is conducted for the evolution of suspension particles in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The mathematical model based on the Lagrangian tracking method incorporates a nanoparticle model into the ICP code. This comprehensive model considers entire physical phenomena of the in-flight particle such as injection, accelerating, solvent evaporation, solid particle discharge, heating, melting, and evaporation. After validating the computational results of the flow field with published experimental data, parametric analysis has been performed to find the way of controlling the operating conditions for desirable final particle status. The influences of injection position, carrier gas velocity, power level, particle initial size on particle size, temperature, and velocity evolution have been in detail discussed. The relationship between the predicted height of droplet complete evaporation and the droplet initial diameter is deduced. Finally, results also calculate the critical size of an ethanol droplet suspended with zirconia particles, which will be completely vaporized under present conditions.     

Effects of operating conditions on droplet deposition onto surface of atomization impinging spray

A comprehensive model based on the Navier-Stokes equation and particle tracking method is used to study the effervescent atomization impinging spray, and another model is used to establish the relationship between the droplet velocity near the plate and the different operating conditions. The models and numerical code are validated by comparing the numerical results with the published experimental results. The effects of air-to-liquid ratio, nozzle diameter, liquid mass flow rate, and the position of impinging plate on the Weber number and K number as well as the droplet deposition onto the plate are discussed. The results show that the droplet velocity near the plate increases with increasing air-to-liquid ratio and liquid mass flow rate, and with decreasing nozzle diameter and axial distance from the nozzle exit to the plate. The droplet diameter near the plate increases with increasing axial distance from the nozzle exit to the plate, and with decreasing air-to-liquid ratio. As a function of the nozzle diameter and liquid mass flow rate, the variation of droplet diameter is not monotonous and the effect of liquid mass flow rate on the droplet diameter is insignificant. In the studied operating conditions, it is difficult for the droplet to rebound off the plate when impinging on the plate but it is easier for the droplet to splash. In order to create a condition which can benefit the droplet deposition when impinging on the plate, the suggested ways are to reduce the air-to-liquid ratio and liquid mass flow rate, increase the nozzle diameter, and select a suitable range of axial distance from the nozzle exit to the plate.     

Investigation on in-flight particle velocity in supersonic plasma spraying

0Introduction Asakindofsurfaceengineeringtechnology,thermal sprayingcanprovideprotectiveorfunctionalcoatings whicharewidelyusedinmanyindustrieslikechemistryin dustry,papermaking,electricengineering,powerplant, aviation,automobileproducing,steelmill,glass…     

A Study of Wire Breakup and In-Flight Particle Behavior During Wire Flame Spraying of Aluminum

Although wire flame spraying has been used for many years, there has been relatively little attention given to understanding the process dynamics. In this work, imaging of the molten wire tip, particle imaging using the Oseir SprayWatch system and particle capture (wipe tests) have all been employed to quantify plume behavior. Aluminum wire feedstock is melted and then breaks up close to the exit of the spray nozzle in a non-axisymmetric manor. The mean velocity and diameter of the particles detected by the SprayWatch system change little with standoff distance with values of approximately 280 m/s and 70 µm, respectively, for the spray parameters employed. The particle diagnostic system could not detect particles ?45 µm in diameter, and it is estimated that these account for no more than 53% of the sprayed material. Overall, wire flame spraying generates a surprisingly stable particle stream.     

3D Modeling of Transport Phenomena and the Injection of the Solution Droplets in the Solution Precursor Plasma Spraying

Solution precursor plasma spraying has been used to produce finely structured ceramic coatings with nano- and sub-micrometric features. This process involves the injection of a solution spray of ceramic salts into a DC plasma jet under atmospheric condition. During the process, the solvent vaporizes as the droplet travel downstream. Solid particles are finally formed due to the precipitation of the solute, and the particle are heated up and accelerated to the substrate to generate the coating. This article describes a 3D model to simulate the transport phenomena and the trajectory and heating of the solution spray in the process. The jet-spray two-way interactions are considered. A simplified model is employed to simulate the evolution process and the formation of the solid particle from the solution droplet in the plasma jet. The temperature and velocity fields of the jet are obtained and validated. The particle size, velocity, temperature, and position distribution on the substrate are predicted. This article is an invited paper selected from presentations at the 2007 International Thermal Spray Conference and has been expanded from the original presentation. It is simultaneously published in Global Coating Solutions, Proceedings of the 2007 International Thermal Spray Conference, Beijing, China, May 14-16, 2007, Basil R. Marple, Margaret M. Hyland, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Chang-Jiu Li, Rogerio S. Lima, and Ghislain Montavon, Ed., ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2007.     

Synthesis of AlN–SiC solid solution through nitriding combustion of Al–C–Si3N4 in air

A simple way of fabricating AlN–SiC solid solutions (AlN–SiCss) through the combustion reaction of aluminum, carbon and Si₃N₄ powder mixtures in air is reported. X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy are employed to analyze the phase composition and microstructure of the as-synthesized products. It is found that the phase composition of the product changes gradually with the increase in air infiltration distance, accompanied by variation in the partial pressure of N₂/O₂ at different locations of the powder compacts. Homogeneous single-phase AlN–SiCss powders with well-crystallized hexagonal morphologies and a fine particle size of 3 μm can be obtained within a suitable distance range of N₂ infiltration. Thermodynamic analysis of the Al–C–Si₃N₄–air combustion reaction system was conducted based on the N₂/O₂ diffusion kinetic model, and the calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental phenomenon.     

等离子体喷涂中颗粒加热过程数值模拟

目的研究颗粒在等离子体喷涂中的加热过程及影响因素。方法使用Fluent软件对处于等离子射流中颗粒的加热过程与状态进行求解计算,根据计算结果分析了喷距、颗粒直径与颗粒材料对颗粒加热状况与内部温度梯度的影响。结果对于不同的喷距,在颗粒升温过程中,颗粒表面温度高于中心温度;在颗粒降温过程中,颗粒表面温度低于中心温度,并且降温过程中的表面-中心温差远小于升温过程中的表面-中心温差。在颗粒升温过程中,其内部存在不同的加热阶段。对于不同的直径,虽然大颗粒比小颗粒能进入射流中心更深的位置,但小颗粒的加热效果更好。表面-中心温差随着颗粒直径的增大而增大,三种不同直径的颗粒的表面-中心温差变化曲线都表现出相似的趋势。对于不同材料的颗粒,热导率越低的颗粒,其表面-中心温差越高,越难以完全熔化。结论喷距、颗粒直径与颗粒材料对颗粒加热状况和内部温度梯度有很大的影响,该模拟结果能为分析颗粒与等离子体之间的传热提供参考。     

Computational study and experimental comparison of the in-flight particle behavior for an external injection plasma spray process

A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis using Fluent V5.4 was conducted on the in-flight particle behavior during the plasma spraying process with external injection. The spray process was modeled as a steady jet issuing from the torch nozzle via the heating of the are gas by an electric are within the nozzle. The stochastic discrete model was used for the particle distribution. The particle temperature, velocity, and size inside the plasma plume at a specified standoff distance have been investigated. The results show that carrier gas flow rate variation from 2 standard liters per minute (slm) to 4.0 slm can increase the centerline particle mean temperature and mean velocity by 10% and 16%, respectively, at the specified standoff distance. A further increase of the carrier gas flow rate to 6 slm did not change the particle temperature, but the particle velocity was decreased by 20%. It was also found that an increase in the total arc gas flow rate from 52 slm to 61 slm, with all other process parameters unchanged, resulted in a 17% higher particle velocity, but 6% lower particle temperature. Some of these computational findings were experimentally confirmed by Kucuk et al. For a given process parameter setting, the kinetic and thermal energy extracted by the particles reached a maximum for carrier gas flow rate of about 3.5–4.0 slm.     

A Numerical Study of Suspension Injection in Plasma-Spraying Process

Suspension feedstock in plasma spraying opened a new chapter in coating process with enhanced characteristics. The suspension carrying sub-micron up to few micron-sized particles is radially injected into an atmospheric plasma plume. Understanding the trajectory, velocity, and temperature of these small particles upon impacting on the substrate is a key factor to produce repeatable and controllable coatings. A three dimensional two-way coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian scheme is utilized to simulate the flow field of the plasma plume as well as the interactions between the evaporative suspension droplets with the gas phase. To model the breakup of droplets, Kelvin-Helmholtz Rayleigh-Taylor breakup model is used. After the breakup and evaporation of suspension is complete, the solid suspended particles are tracked through the domain to determine the characteristics of the coating particles. The numerical results are validated against experiments using high-speed imaging.     

Modeling and characterization of metal droplets generation by using a pneumatic drop-on-demand generator

A 2D axisymmetric model has been proposed to study the mechanism of the droplet generation by using a pneumatic drop-on-demand (DOD) generator. A proprietary pneumatic DOD generator was also applied to conduct droplet generation experiments. The validity of the proposed model was verified through the simulation results of droplet pattern, breakup length distance and droplet diameter, which were in good agreement with the experimental ones. Theoretical studies were conducted to characterize the metal droplet generation using pneumatic DOD technique. Theoretical analyses show that metal droplets break away from jets in front of the sphere ends due to the increase of the capillary disturbance at a very small Ohnesorge number (Oh < 0.01). This capillary disturbance is caused by the action of surface tension. Shapes of droplets do not significantly change because of the relatively low pressure inside droplets. The droplet diameter decreases when the nozzle diameter decreases to 100 μm, while the ratio of droplet diameter to nozzle diameter increases rapidly. An external disturbance with high frequency should be introduced to accelerate the metal jet breakup for further decreasing the droplet size. This work offers a useful guide for choosing appropriate parameters to generate metal droplets using pneumatic DOD technique.     

Mathematical modeling of the gas and powder flow in HVOF systems

A mathematical model was developed to describe the gas dynamics and heat-transfer mechanism in the gas/particle flow of high- velocity oxyfuel (HVOF) systems. A numerical solution was carried out using a PC- based computer program. One- dimensional predictions of the temperature and velocity profiles of gas and particles along the axis of flow were obtained to conduct cost- effective parametric studies and quality optimization of thermal spray coatings produced by HVOF systems. The numerical computer model allows for the variation of the HVOF system parameters, such as air/fuel ratio and flow rates, cooling water inlet temperature and flow rate, barrel length, standoff distance, particle size, and gun geometry. Because of the negligible volume of the powder relative to the gas, the gaseous phase was modeled as continuous nonadiabatic, and friction flow with variable specific heats and changing cross- sectional areas of flow. The generalized continuity, momentum, and energy equations with the influence parameters were used to model the gaseous flow regime and predict its thermodynamic properties. Empirical formulas for the mean axial decay of both velocity and temperature in the supersonic jet plume region were generated from published measurements of these parameters using laser Doppler velocimeter and Ray leigh scattering techniques, respectively. The particle drag and heat- transfer coefficients were calculated by empirical formulas in terms of Reynolds, Nusselt, and Prandtl numbers to evaluate both the momentum and heat transferred between the combustion gases and the powder particles. The model predictions showed good agreement with the particle and gas temperature and velocity measurements that are available in the literature.     

Relationship Between Impact Velocity of Al2O3 Particles and Deposition Efficiency in Aerosol Deposition Method

Aerosol deposition method (ADM) is a technique to form dense films by impacting solid particles to a substrate at room temperature. To improve the deposition efficiency in ADM, the relationship between the impact velocity of Al₂O₃ particles and the deposition efficiency was investigated in this study. Relative difference in impact particle velocity was evaluated by the increment percentage of the substrate surface area after deposition (ΔS). It is thought that the increase of ΔS means the increase of the impact particle velocity. When ΔS was lower than 10 %, the deposition efficiency increased from 0.082 to 0.104 % as ΔS increased from 3.46 to 9.25 %. Increasing impact particle velocity could promote the bonding between the particles themselves. On the other hand, when ΔS was higher than 10 %, the erosion of the film was observed and the deposition efficiency decreased to about 0.02 % as ΔS increased to about 40 %. SEM observation revealed that cracks parallel to the film surface were propagated. There is a possibility that this tendency of the deposition efficiency toward the impact particle velocity is common among the methods for forming ceramic films by impacting solid ceramic particles.     

Peening action and residual stresses in high-velocity oxygen fuel thermal spraying of 316L stainless steel

316L stainless steel powder was sprayed by a high-pressure high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) process. Effects of powder size and the pressure in the combustion chamber on the velocity and temperature of sprayed particles were studied by using an optical instrument, first, at the substrate position. A strong negative correlation between the particle temperature and the diameter was found, whereas the correlation between the velocity and the diameter was not significant. The pressure in the combustion chamber affected the velocity of sprayed particles significantly, whereas the particle temperature remained largely unchanged. In-situ curvature measurement was employed in order to study the process of stress generation during HVOF spraying. From the measured curvature changes, the intensity of peening action and the resultant compressive stress by HVOF sprayed particles were found to increase with the kinetic energy of the sprayed particles. The results were further used to estimate the stress distribution within the coatings. X-ray stress measurement revealed that the residual stress on the surface of the HVOF coatings is low and often in tension, but the stress inside the coatings is in a high level of compression.     

Standoff distance and bow shock phenomena in the Cold Spray process

Cold Spray involves the deposition of metallic powder particles using a supersonic gas jet. When the nozzle standoff distance is small, a bow shock is formed at the impingement zone between the supersonic jet and the substrate. It has long been thought that this bow shock is detrimental to process performance as it can reduce particle impact velocities. By using computational fluid dynamics, Particle Image Velocimetry and Schlieren imaging it was possible to show that the bow shock has a negative influence on deposition efficiency as a result of a reduction in particle velocity. Furthermore, the existence of the bow shock was shown to be dependent on the length of the nozzle's supersonic potential core. Experiments were carried out with aluminium, copper and titanium powders using a custom-made helium nozzle, operating at 2.0 MPa and 20 °C, and a commercial nitrogen nozzle operating at 3.0 MPa and 300 °C. In all cases, it was found that there is a direct relationship between standoff distance and deposition efficiency. At standoff distances less than 60 mm, the bow shock reduced deposition efficiencies by as much as 40%.     

Influence of NH4Cl Powder Addition for Fabrication of Aluminum Nitride Coating in Reactive Atmospheric Plasma Spray Process

Reactive plasma spray is the key to fabricating aluminum nitride (AlN) thermally sprayed coatings. It was possible to fabricate AlN/Al composite coatings using atmospheric plasma spray process through plasma nitriding of Al powders (Al 30 ??m). The nitriding reaction and the AlN content could be improved by controlling the spray distance and the feedstock powder particle size. Increasing the spray distance and/or using smaller particle size of Al powders improved the in-flight nitriding reaction. However, it was difficult to fabricate thick and dense AlN coatings with an increase in the spray distance and/or when using fine particles. Thus, the coatings thickness was suppressed because of the complete nitriding of some particles (formation of AlN particles) during flight, which prevents the particle deposition. Furthermore, the excessive vaporization of Al fine particles (due to increased particle temperature) decreased the deposition efficiency. To fabricate thick AlN coatings in the reactive plasma spray process, improving the nitriding reaction of the large Al particles at short spray distance is required to decrease the vaporization of Al particles during flight. This study investigated the influence of adding ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) powders on the nitriding process of large Al powders and on the microstructure of the fabricated coatings. It was possible to fabricate thick AlN coatings at 100 mm spray distance with small addition of NH₄Cl powders to the Al feedstock powders (30 ??m). Addition of NH₄Cl to the starting Al powders promoted the formation of AlN through changing the reaction path to vapor-phase nitridation chlorination-nitridation sequences as confirmed by the thermodynamic analysis of possible intermediate reactions. This changes the nitriding reaction to a mild way, so it is more controlled with no explosive mode and with relatively low heating rates. Thus, NH₄Cl acts as a catalyst, nitrogen source, and diluent agent. Furthermore, the evolved gases from the sublimation or decomposition of NH₄Cl can prevent the Al particles coalescing after melting.