Synchronization of Suspension Plasma Spray Injection with the Arc Fluctuations

Poorly controlled heat and momentum transfers between plasma and material, plasma instabilities are some of the difficulties encountered in suspension plasma spraying. The improvement of this method is usually attempted by means of the reduction of arc fluctuations. This paper presents a new approach to the injection of reactive material in an arc jet. The principle is to produce a pulsed laminar plasma jet combined with phased injection of liquid droplets. This is achieved by the particular design of the plasma torch that works at moderate power and following a resonant mode. The droplets are injected using a piezoelectric device, based on drop-on-demand method, triggered by the voltage signal sampled at the torch connections. The results are evaluated by time-resolved imaging technique that shows how the trajectories are influenced by the moment at which the droplets penetrate the plasma jet.     

弧电压对等离子射流温度脉动的影响

电弧等离子体射流中的湍流是等离子体射流的典型物理现象之一。射流的脉动将直接影响射流温度的脉动,而以往的研究认为射流存在一个处于稳定状态的核心区域,本文采用电弧等离子体光谱诊断及数字高速摄影的方法对常压电弧等离子体射流进行了研究,采用了傅立叶变换的方法分析弧电压和射流光谱强度信号,发现电源的交流分量和阳极弧点运动对整个射流的脉动特性都有影响。射流并不存在一个处于稳定状态的核心区域,相反从谱线强度脉动与弧电压脉动的FFT分析图中可以看到,射流的脉动主要是由电弧电压的脉动造成的。     

Particle Temperature Fluctuations in Plasma Spraying

In direct current (d.c.) plasma spray torches, the dynamic behavior of the arc attachment at the anode nozzle results in arc voltage fluctuations and correspondingly power fluctuations. The resulting plasma jet instabilities affect the treatment (heat and momentum) of particles injected in the plasma flow and, thus, the coating quality. However, it is not clear if the experimentally observed fluctuations of particle temperatures are a major phenomena and if their frequencies are always in unison with those of voltage. In this study, two online techniques are used to investigate, respectively, the time variation of particle temperatures and its correlation with voltage variations; the first technique makes it possible to analyze plasma voltage instabilities and the second one to investigate those of particle temperatures. Both allow determining the frequencies and amplitude variations of voltage and particle temperature. Experiments were carried out with three plasma torches (F4-type and two 3MB-type) using, respectively, argon-hydrogen (F4-type and 3MB) and nitrogen-hydrogen (3MB) mixtures (all with restrike mode for the voltage fluctuations) as plasma-forming gases. A good correlation between arc voltage and particle temperature fluctuations is observed when the plasma torch is operated with argon-hydrogen mixtures and high mass flow rate. However, it is not the case when the torch is operated with nitrogen-hydrogen mixtures even if the amplitudes of voltage fluctuations are two to three times higher than those obtained with Ar-H₂.     

Comparison Between High-Velocity Suspension Flame Spraying and Suspension Plasma Spraying of Alumina

Two different spray processes??suspension plasma spraying (SPS) and high-velocity suspension flame spraying (HVSFS)??are under focus in the field of suspension spraying. Both techniques are suitable for manufacturing finely structured coatings. The differences in the particle velocity and temperature of these two processes cause varying coating characteristics. The high particle velocity of the HVSFS process leads to more dense coatings with low porosity values. Coatings with a higher and also homogeneous porosity, which can be generated by SPS, have also high potential, for example, for thermal barrier coatings. In this study, both the processes??SPS and HVSFS??were compared using alumina as feedstock material mixed with different solvents. Besides the characterization of the microstructure and phase composition of the applied coatings, the focus of this study was the investigation of the melting behavior of the particles in-flight and of single splat characteristics.     

Numerical Study of Suspension Plasma Spraying

A numerical study of suspension plasma spraying is presented in the current work. The liquid suspension jet is replaced with a train of droplets containing the suspension particles injected into the plasma flow. Atomization, evaporation, and melting of different components are considered for droplets and particles as they travel toward the substrate. Effect of different parameters on particle conditions during flight and upon impact on the substrate is investigated. Initially, influence of the torch operating conditions such as inlet flow rate and power is studied. Additionally, effect of injector parameters like injection location, flow rate, and angle is examined. The model used in the current study takes high-temperature gradients and non-continuum effects into account. Moreover, the important effect of change in physical properties of suspension droplets as a result of evaporation is included in the model. These mainly include variations in heat transfer properties and viscosity. Utilizing this improved model, several test cases have been considered to better evaluate the effect of different parameters on the quality of particles during flight and upon impact on the substrate.     

Influence of Plasma Instabilities in Ceramic Suspension Plasma Spraying

Direct current Suspension Plasma Spraying (SPS) allows depositing finely structured coatings. This article presents an analysis of the influence of plasma instabilities on the yttria-stabilized suspension drops fragmentation. A particular attention is paid to the treatment of suspension jet or drops according to the importance of voltage fluctuations (linked to those of the arc root) and depending on the different spray parameters such as the plasma forming gas mixture composition and mass flow rate and the suspension momentum. By observing the suspension drops injection with a fast shutter camera and a laser flash sheet triggered by a defined transient voltage level of the plasma torch, the influence of plasma fluctuations on jet or drops fragmentation is studied through the deviation and dispersion trajectories of droplets within the plasma jet. 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.     

Arc Plasma Torch Modeling

Arc plasma torches are the primary components of various industrial thermal plasma processes involving plasma spraying, metal cutting and welding, thermal plasma CVD, metal melting and remelting, waste treatment, and gas production. They are relatively simple devices whose operation implies intricate thermal, chemical, electrical, and fluid dynamics phenomena. Modeling may be used as a means to better understand the physical processes involved in their operation. This article presents an overview of the main aspects involved in the modeling of DC arc plasma torches: the mathematical models including thermodynamic and chemical nonequilibrium models, turbulent and radiative transport, thermodynamic and transport property calculation, boundary conditions, and arc reattachment models. It focuses on the conventional plasma torches used for plasma spraying that include a hot cathode and a nozzle anode.     

悬浮液等离子喷涂与常规等离子喷涂纳米结构陶瓷涂层的研究

以蛇纹石,矿物质羟基硅酸镁Mg6(Si4O10)(OH)8,为主成分的自修复剂对金属磨损表面的修复作用,在我国已得到较为广泛关注和认同。文中以在内燃机车柴油机缸套内表面生成的自修复层为例,通过SEM,XRD,XPS,AES,Laser Raman,HRTEM,STEM和纳米硬度计等表面分析和测量手段,深入观察和分析了磨损表面自修复层的生成机理。结果表明:蛇纹石的高化学活性使氧原子、氧离子和自由水从表面向内部强扩散,铁基金属的合金成分渗碳体(Fe3C)被氧化。这是有别于高温内氧化的一种特殊的内氧化过程,对磨损表面生成自修复层有决定性的作用。进而,摩擦副的相对往复运动诱发内氧化组织的形变细化和形变强化,形成性能优异的自修复保护层。     

Suspension Plasma Spraying of YPSZ Coatings: Suspension Atomization and Injection

Among processes evaluated to produce some parts of or the whole solid-oxide fuel cell, Suspension Plasma Spraying (SPS) is of prime interest. Aqueous suspensions of yttria partially stabilized zirconia atomized into a spray by an internal-mixing co-axial twin-fluid atomizer were injected into a DC plasma jet. The dispersion and stability of the suspensions were enhanced by adjusting the amount of dispersant (ammonium salt of polyacrylic acid, PAA). A polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was further added to the suspension to tailor its viscosity. The PVA also improved the dispersion and stability of the suspensions. The atomization of optimized formulations is described implementing Weber and Ohnesorge dimensionless numbers as well as gas-to-liquid mass ratio (ALR) value. Drop size distributions changed from monomodal distributions at low We to multimodal distributions when We number increases. The viscosity of the suspensions has a clear influence on the drop size distribution and suspension spray pattern. The secondary fragmentation of the drops due to the plasma jet was evidenced and the final size of the sheared drops was shown to depend on the characteristics of the suspension. Rather dense zirconia coatings have been prepared, which is a promising way to produce electrolyte.     

Plasma Spraying of Copper by Hybrid Water-Gas DC Arc Plasma Torch

Water-stabilized DC arc plasma torches offer a good alternative to common plasma sources used for plasma spraying applications. Unique properties of the generated plasma are determined by a specific plasma torch construction. This article is focused on a study of the plasma spraying process performed by a hybrid torch WSP500^®-H, which combines two principles of arc stabilization—water vortex and gas flow. Spraying tests with copper powder have been carried out in a wide range of plasma torch parameters. First, analyses of particle in-flight behavior for various spraying conditions were done. After, particles were collected in liquid nitrogen, which enabled analyses of the particle in-flight oxidation. A series of spraying tests were carried out and coatings were analyzed for their microstructure, porosity, oxide content, mechanical, and thermal properties.     

Silver-Doped Hydroxyapatite Coatings Deposited by Suspension Plasma Spraying

Pure hydroxyapatite suspension was produced by wet chemical synthesis. Using a hybrid water-stabilized torch, a series of HA coatings were produced on SS304 and Ti6Al4V substrates and their properties were characterized by SEM, EDX and XRD techniques. After deposition, the amorphous phase content reached 6-10% and the coatings retained 75-82% of crystalline HA phase. Their thickness reached 145 μm. To understand the wear behavior of the coatings, pin-on-disc tribology evaluation was performed. Additionally, a set of HA coatings was prepared with pure metallic Ag content. This formed by in situ chemical decomposition of AgNO₃ added into the HA suspension. The Ag was dispersed evenly within the coatings in the form of submicron-sized particles situated predominantly along the HA splats boundaries with a total Ag content of 8 wt.%. Given the antibacterial properties of Ag, such result presents a promising step forward in the hard tissue replacement research.     

Suspension Plasma Spraying: Process Characteristics and Applications

Suspension plasma spraying (SPS) offers the manufacture of unique microstructures which are not possible with conventional powdery feedstock. Due to the considerably smaller size of the droplets and also the further fragmentation of these in the plasma jet, the attainable microstructural features like splat and pore sizes can be downsized to the nanometer range. Our present understanding of the deposition process including injection, suspension plasma plume interaction, and deposition will be outlined. The drawn conclusions are based on analysis of the coating microstructures in combination with particle temperature and velocity measurements as well as enthalpy probe investigations. The last measurements with the water cooled stagnation probe gives valuable information on the interaction of the carrier fluid with the plasma plume. Meanwhile, different areas of application of SPS coatings are known. In this paper, the focus will be on coatings for energy systems. Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) for modern gas turbines are one important application field. SPS coatings offer the manufacture of strain-tolerant, segmented TBCs with low thermal conductivity. In addition, highly reflective coatings, which reduce the thermal load of the parts from radiation, can be produced. Further applications of SPS coatings as cathode layers in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and for photovoltaic (PV) applications will be presented.     

等离子喷涂镍基合金涂层的组织与耐蚀性

采用等离子热喷涂技术在N80钢表面制备了镍基合金涂层,利用SEM/EDS和XRD以及电化学测试、盐雾试验等方法,对镍基合金涂层的微观组织和腐蚀性能进行了研究。结果表明:镍基合金涂层由单质Ni相及固溶体Cr1.2Ni2.88、FeNi3、MoO2和CuO组成。在5%NaCl溶液中,镍基合金涂层的腐蚀电流密度为1.2823×10-6 A/cm2,仅为N80钢的1/50。在饱和二氧化碳的地层水+3.5%NaCl溶液的酸性环境中,镍基合金涂层的腐蚀电流密度为1.074×10-6 A/cm2,仅为N80钢的1/25。在两种腐蚀环境条件下,镍基合金涂层的极化曲线均有明显的钝化趋势,具有良好的耐蚀性能。在盐雾腐蚀环境中,镍基合金涂层的腐蚀速率是N80钢的1/3,显著提高了基体的抗腐蚀性能。     

Comparisons Between Two Different Three-Dimensional Arc Plasma Torch Simulations

Several numerical models have been developed to study the characteristics of an arc inside the nontransferred plasma torch. A few of them have considered complete geometry of cathode and anode nozzle (type I) whereas others have considered only anode nozzle with cathode tip (type II). In this work, a three-dimensional model is developed to simulate Ar-N₂ arc in type I and type II geometries. Various combinations of the arc length and arc core radius are predicted for the torch power that corresponds to given gas flow rate and current. Various combinations of the same and minimum entropy production for all cases could not be predicted in type II geometry. The difference between velocities predicted in both geometries is larger than that between temperatures. Three-dimensional effect in the plasma jet thermo-fluid fields demises along the axial direction. Torch efficiencies and arc voltages predicted in both geometries are comparable with measurements.     

Manufacturing Process of Nanostructured Alumina Coatings by Suspension Plasma Spraying

This paper describes the formation process of nanostructured alumina coatings and the injection system obtained by suspension plasma spraying (SPS), an alternative to the atmospheric plasma spraying technique in which the material feedstock is a suspension of the nanopowder to be sprayed. The nanoscale alumina powders (d ≈ 20 nm) were dispersed in distilled water or ethanol and injected by a peristaltic pump into plasma under atmospheric conditions. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed to study the microstructure of the nanostructured alumina coatings. The results showed that the nanoscale alumina powders in suspension were very easily adsorbed at the inner surface of injection, which caused the needle to jam. The rotation of the pump had a great effect on the suspension injection in the plasma. The very small resistance of the thin plasma boundary layer near the substrate can drastically decrease the impacting velocity of nanosize droplets. The concentration of suspension also has a significant influence on the distribution of the size of the droplet, the enthalpy needed for spraying suspension, and the roughness of the coating surface. The phase structures of alumina suspension coatings strongly depend on the plasma spraying distance. A significant nanostructured fine alumina coating was obtained in some areas when ethanol was used as a solvent. The microstructures of the coating were observed as a function of the solvent and the spraying parameters.     

Synthesis and Preliminary Tests of Suspension Plasma Spraying of Fine Hydroxyapatite Powder

The synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) is a very useful biomaterial for numerous applications in medicine, such as e.g., fine powder for suspension plasma spraying. The powder was synthesized using aqueous solution of ammonium phosphate (H₂(PO₄)NH₄) and calcium nitrate (Ca(NO₃) · 4H₂O) in the carefully controlled experiments. The synthesized fine powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The powder was formulated into water and alcohol based suspension and used to carry out the initial tests of plasma spraying onto titanium substrate. The phase analysis of sprayed coating was made with the XRD.     

In Situ Particle Behavior of Cast Iron Powder by Suspension Plasma Spraying

An important issue for atmospheric plasma sprayed metal coatings is the oxidation involved during processing that significantly affects its phase composition and microstructure and thus the overall coating properties. In this study, suspension thermal spraying was used to manufacture cast iron coatings with high amounts of graphite carbon as solid-lubricant, because graphite structure is considerably diminished in molten droplets of the spray material due to the dissolution into molten iron and/or the oxidation. Additional graphite formation based on the soot reaction of liquid hydrocarbon was observed. Oxidation strongly affects the soot reaction during suspension thermal spraying. Therefore, setting-up of a shroud around the plasma plume is quite effective to prevent the oxidation of hydrocarbon.     

Deposition and Characteristics of Submicrometer-Structured Thermal Barrier Coatings by Suspension Plasma Spraying

In the field of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) for gas turbines, suspension plasma sprayed (SPS) submicrometer-structured coatings often show unique mechanical, thermal, and optical properties compared to conventional atmospheric plasma sprayed ones. They have thus the potential of providing increased TBC performances under severe thermo-mechanical loading. Experimental results showed the capability of SPS to obtain yttria stabilized zirconia coatings with very fine porosity and high density of vertical segmentation cracks, yielding high strain tolerance, and low Young??s modulus. The evolution of the coating microstructure and properties during thermal cycling test at very high surface temperature (1400?°C) in our burner rigs and under isothermal annealing was investigated. Results showed that, while segmentation cracks survive, sintering occurs quickly during the first hours of exposure, leading to pore coarsening and stiffening of the coating. In-situ measurements at 1400?°C of the elastic modulus were performed to investigate in more detail the sintering-related stiffening.     

Influence of Suspension Plasma Spraying Process Parameters on TiO2 Coatings Microstructure

The study aimed at optimizing the suspension plasma spraying of TiO₂ coatings obtained using different suspensions of fine rutile particles in water solution onto aluminum substrates. The experiments of spraying were designed using a 2³ full factorial plan. The plan enabled to find the effects of three principal parameters, i.e. electric power input to plasma, spray distance, and suspension feed rate onto microstructure of coatings, content of anatase phase and size of anatase crystals in the coatings. The microstructure of deposits was observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope and their composition was characterized using energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The observations were made on the coatings surface and their cross-sections. The latter made it possible to determine the coatings thicknesses to be in the range from 8 to 33 μm.