Spraying of Metallic Powders by Hybrid Gas/Water Torch and the Effects of Inert Gas Shrouding

A hybrid DC arc plasma torch, combining water and gas stabilization, offers a high flexibility in plasma characteristics. These can be controlled in a wide range by the torch operational parameters, such as arc current and secondary gas flow rate. In this study, their influence on plasma spraying of tungsten and copper was investigated. To suppress the in-flight oxidation of the metals, inert gas shrouding was applied. In-flight particle diagnostics and analysis of free-flight particles and coatings was performed for spraying experiments in the open atmosphere and with argon shrouding. Both in-flight particle behavior and coating properties were found to be sensitive to the torch parameters. The application of shrouding was found to affect particle in-flight parameters, reduce the oxide content in the coatings and generally improve their properties, such as thermal conductivity. However, a different degree of these effects was observed for copper and tungsten.     

Effect of Helmholtz Oscillation on Auto-shroud for APS Tungsten Carbide Coating

The atmospheric-pressure plasma spray (APS) of tungsten coating was performed using tungsten carbide (WC) powder by means of DC plasma torch equipped with a stepped anode nozzle as a potential method of W coating on graphite plasma-facing component of fusion reactors. This nozzle configuration allows Helmholtz oscillation mode dominating in APS arc fluctuation, and the variation of auto-shroud effect with Helmholtz oscillation characteristics can be investigated. Tungsten coating made from WC powder has lower porosity and higher tungsten purity than that made from pure tungsten powder. The porosity and chemical composition of coatings were investigated by mercury intrusion porosimetry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The purity of tungsten coating layer is increased with the increasing frequency of Helmholtz oscillation and the increasing arc current. The modulation of Helmholtz oscillation frequency and magnitude may enhance the decarburization of WC to deposit tungsten coating without W-C and W-O bond from WC powder.     

Three Dimensional Modeling of the Plasma Spray Process

Results of simulations of three-dimensional (3D) temperature and flow fields inside and outside of a DC arc plasma torch in steady state are presented with transverse particle and carrier gas injection into the plasma jet. The results show that an increase of the gas flow rate at constant current moves the anode arc root further downstream leading to higher enthalpy and velocity at the exit of the torch anode, and stronger mixing effects in the jet region. An increase of the arc current with constant gas flow rate shortens the arc, but increases the enthalpy and velocity at the exit of the torch nozzle, and leads to longer jets. 3D features of the plasma jet due to the 3D starting conditions at the torch exit and, in particular, due to the transverse carrier gas and particle injection, as well as 3D trajectories and heating histories of sprayed particles are also discussed.     

Simulation of Arc Root Fluctuation in a DC Non-Transferred Plasma Torch with Three Dimensional Modeling

It is well known that the coating quality of plasma spraying is strongly influenced by the instability of jets in the plasma spray, which is due to arc root fluctuation. Three dimensional (3D) unsteady-state modeling was employed in this research to analyze the arc root fluctuation in a DC non-transferred plasma torch. Numerical calculations on the distributions of gas temperature and velocity in the plasma torch were carried out using argon as the plasma gas. The electrical current density and potential were also discussed. The results indicate that the fluctuation of arc inside the plasma torch is mainly induced by the movement of the arc root on the anode surface. The arc root moves downstream with the flow of gas, and simultaneously the arc is bent by electromagnetic force. When the arc bends close enough to the anode boundary, a new arc root is formed somewhere upstream of the current attachment. In this paper the nature of the arc root fluctuation is presented, and also it is demonstrated that the voltage-drop calculated is larger than that measured experimentally because the plasma inside the torch has some deviation from the local thermodynamic equilibrium state hypothesis used in the current study.     

Arc instabilities in a plasma spray torch

The control over coating quality in plasma spraying is partly dependent on the arc and jet instabilities of the plasma torch. Different forms of instabilities have been observed with different effects on the coating quality. We report on an investigation of these instabilities based on high-speed end-on observation of the arc. The framing rate of 40,500 frames per second has allowed the visualization of the anode attachment movement and the determination of the thickness of the cold-gas boundary layer surrounding the arc. The images have been synchronized with voltage traces. Data have been obtained for a range of arc currents, and mass flow rates for different gas injectors and for anodes displaying different amounts of wear. The analysis of the data has led to quantitative correlations between the cold-gas boundary layer thickness and the instability mode for the range of operating parameters. The arc instabilities can be seen to enhance the plasma jet instabilities and the cold-gas entrainment. These results are particularly useful for guiding plasma torch design and operation in minimizing the influence of plasma jet instabilities on coating properties.     

电弧电压对低能等离子喷涂WC-Co涂层组织及性能的影响

使用烧结破碎的WC-12%Co粉末,采用轴向送粉等离子喷涂系统制备WC-Co涂层。保持电弧电流不变,增加工作气体中的氢气含量来提高电弧电压,以研究电弧电压对于涂层微观结构的影响。使用X射线衍射仪(XRD)分析WC-Co涂层的脱碳相变,使用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察粉末的熔化程度、扁平化状态和涂层的微观结构,使用MH-6维氏硬度计和MM200磨损试验机分别测量了涂层的显微硬度和耐磨性。结果表明,提高电弧电压有利于粉末的熔化。根据熔化程度的不同,粉末会呈现四种典型的扁平化状态。提高电弧电压促使碳化钨脱碳生成的W_2C和Co_3W_9C_4,涂层中硬质相体积增加,钴基体积减小。适当提高电弧电压有利于增加涂层的硬度和耐磨性,但过高的电弧电压会恶化涂层质量,反而降低涂层的硬度和耐磨性。     

粉末等离子弧堆焊枪体的设计研究

针对工程应用中常见的磨损失效,进行了粉末等离子弧堆焊枪体的设计研究。该堆焊枪喷嘴下端面设计为分体式结构,通过螺纹连接一个可拆卸的配件;采用双喷嘴式结构输送堆焊用合金粉末;枪体内设计了良好的水冷通道,保证堆焊时各部件得到充分冷却。堆焊枪工艺性能试验结果表明,该焊枪稀释率约10%,粉末沉积率>95%,焊接质量优良。     

新型大气长层流等离子体喷涂方法和研究进展

介绍了一种新型大气等离子喷涂方法,该方法采用特殊内通道结构的直流非转移电弧等离子发生器,可以直接在大气条件下获得长度100～1000 mm之间变化的等离子射流。在大气条件下,等离子射流的流动特性具有"长、直、准"的层流或类层流状态,工作时噪音小于80 dB。在工作参数范围内,等离子射流的长度在固定总气流量条件下可以随输出功率的增加而增长;射流的长度在固定输出功率的条件下随总气流量的增加而减小。当使用在大气等离子喷涂技术中时,会为飞行粉末颗粒带来超长的加热和加速过程。文中详细介绍了大气层流等离子喷涂技术的研究历史和研究现状,以及研究团队利用该新型技术制备的6种涂层的显微结构、颗粒的飞行和加热特点,并对比了目前其他大气等离子喷涂技术的结果。结果表明,文中介绍的方法在最低的输出功率和气流量条件下,为金属和陶瓷颗粒提供了超长的飞行和加热条件,表现为较低的颗粒飞行速度和超高的颗粒表面温度。可以在不同的射流长度或喷涂距离下,获得不同的颗粒熔化状态或涂层结构,并发现可以直接在大气条件下获得大规模气液共沉积的涂层。     

Electric Characteristics of Plasma Arc Produced by Bi-Anode Torch

In order to improve the voltage control and stability of a plasma arc, a new-type plasma torch was designed and constructed. The torch, called bi-anode torch, has two anodes that were inter-insulated and have different distances from the cathode tip. The position of the arc root can be controlled to attach to either anode surface during operation to obtain a low-voltage and high-fluctuation arc or a high-voltage and low-fluctuation arc. The paper discussed the occurrence of the double-arc phenomenon and its prevention. Experimental work has been carried out to compare voltage-current (U-I) characteristic of the arc when using different plasma gases and anode arc root attaching to different anode surfaces. The results show that the U-I characteristic of the plasma arc is affected by the position of the anode arc root attachment and the composition of the plasma gas, which was explained by a simplified arc model.     

低功率等离子体炬生产钛合金粉末的理论与实验研究

探讨使用低功率等离子体炬生产钛合金金属粉末的可能性.设计一种氩气直流非转移电弧等离子体炬,并对其等离子体射流特性和导线温度进行数值分析.喷嘴附件内的最高射流速度为838～1178 m/s,不同气体流速下顶点处的射流速度为494～645 m/s.等离子体气体流速对有效等离子体射流长度无显著影响.利用等离子体射流的温度和速...     

Characteristics of a Plasma Torch Designed for Very Low Pressure Plasma Spraying

Unlike atmosphere plasma spraying (APS), very low pressure plasma spraying (VLPPS) can only weakly heat the feed materials at the plasma-free region exit of the nozzle. Most current VLPPS methods have adopted a high power plasma gun, which operates at high arc currents up to 2500?A to remedy the lower heating ability, causing a series of problems for both the plasma torch and the associated facility. According to the Kundsen number and pressures distribution inside of the nozzle in a low-pressure environment, a plasma torch was designed with a separated anode and nozzle, and with the powder feed to the plasma jets inside the nozzle intake. In this study, the pressures in the plasma gas intake, in the nozzle intake and outside the plasma torch were measured using an enthalpy probe. For practice, SUS 316 stainless steel coatings were prepared at the plasma currents of 500-600?A, an arc voltage of 50?V and a chamber pressure of 1000?Pa; the results indicated that coatings with an equiaxed microstructure could be deposited?in proper conditions.     

Comparative study of the structure of gas-stabilized and water-stabilized plasma jets

The near-field structures of a gas- stabilized plasma jet and a water-stabilized plasma jet were investigated using a nano-pulsed laser probe and stroboscopic focusing schlieren techniques. The high exit temof the gas caused laminar flow conditions at the exit of the jet, producing instability waves in the region. Significant heat conduction to the ambient fluid and volumetric expansion of the ambient gases in the near- field were observed in the schlieren images of these jets. Considerable asymmetry in the mixing and entrainment region of the water- stabilized plasma jet was also visible, whereas no significant asymmetry occurred in the luminous core of the jet. The particles injected into the plasma jet, which were visualized by the pulsed- laser technique, were confined to a narrow central core of the jet in the near- field of the jet. The combination of the two visualization techniques used in the present study allowed nonintrusive monitoring of the plasma spray process in an effort to enhance the quality of the processed deposits.     

旋转电弧加热在环状工件内壁沉积金刚石涂层

为实现在大口径环状工件内壁沉积金刚石涂层,研制一种能够产生旋转电弧的分体式等离子炬。利用活动阳极形成的伞状电弧帽,改变平行于轴且向下吹的工作气体旋转电离的方向,使其垂直吹向环状工件内壁。测试不同阳极直径下电弧的工作参数,并用相机拍摄相应的电弧形貌。进行金刚石涂层沉积试验,在内径为180?mm的硬质合金拉拔模具和内径为100?mm的石墨内表面沉积出高质量的金刚石涂层。利用拉曼光谱仪和扫描电镜对涂层的成分、表面形貌等进行测试分析。已沉积金刚石涂层的硬质合金模具成功应用于超高压电缆铝护套的拉拔设备中。      

Spray parameters and particle behavior relationships during plasma spraying

Using laser anemometry, laser fluxmetry, and statistical two-color pyrometry, the velocity, number flux, and surface temperature distributions of alumina and zirconia particles in dc plasma jets have been determined inflight for various spraying parameters. The flux measurements emphasized the importance of the carrier gas flow rate, which must be adjusted to the plasma jet momentum depending on the arc current, nozzle diameter, gas flow rate, and gas nature. It has also been shown that the particle trajectories depend both on the particle size and injection velocity distributions and that the position and tilting of the injector plays a great role. The particle size drastically influences its surface temperature and velocity, and for the refractory materials studied, only the particles below 45 μm in diameter are fully molten in Ar-H₂ (30 vol%) plasma jets at 40 kW. The morphology of the particles is also a critical parameter. The agglomerated particles partially explode upon penetration into the jet, and the heat propagation phenomenon is seriously enhanced, particularly for particles larger than 40 μm. The effects of the arc current and gas flow rate have been studied, and the results obtained in an air atmosphere cannot be understood without considering the enhanced pumping of air when the plasma velocity is increased. The Ar-He (60 vol%) and Ar-H₂ (30 vol%) plasma jets, when conditions are found where both plasma jets have about the same dimensions, do not result in the same treatment for the particles. The particles are not as well heated in the Ar-He jet compared to the Ar-H₂ jet. Where the surrounding atmosphere is pure argon instead of air (in a controlled atmosphere chamber), he radial velocity and temperature distributions are broadened, and if the velocities are about the same, the temperatures are higher. The use of nozzle shields delays the air pumping and increases both the velocity and surface temperature of the particles. However, the velocity increase in this case does not seem to be an advantage for coating properties.     

Effect of plasma spray operating conditions on plasma jet characteristics and coating properties

Using statistical design of experiments, the arc current, total gas flow rate, percent secondary gas (He), and powder feed rate have been varied to assess the torch behavior and establish its correlation to coating properties. The torch response includes arc voltage drop, torch efficiency, and plasma jet geometry. High-speed images of the luminous plasma jet for each operating condition have been acquired with a LaserStrobeℳ videocamera, and image analysis has been used to quantify the jet length and jet fluctuations as additional torch responses. Porosity and unmelted particles, which are determined using image analysis of a micrograph of a NiAl coating cross section, were selected as principal coating characteristics. These findings are expected to be useful for optimization of new spray processes and for evaluation of new torch designs.     

Modeling the restrike mode operation of a DC plasma spray torch

A key aspect of the operation of conventional non-transferred direct current (dc) plasma torches is the random motion of the arc inside the nozzle. Various plasma gun designs have been developed to limit the arc fluctuations without increasing the heat load to the anode wall that results in surface erosion and anode wear. However, construction of these plasma torches is highly complex, while the conventional dc plasma torch consists of a small number of elements and is simple to manufacture and maintain. A better understanding of the behavior of the arc-anode attachment and how it depends on operating conditions may help in the design and operation of conventional plasma torches so that the fluctuation of the time-voltage, and therefore the time-enthalpy variation, is as low as possible with a fluctuation frequency adapted to the time characteristic of the powder particles in the plasma jet. This study deals with a three-dimensional (3D) time-dependent modeling of the arc and plasma generation in such a torch operating under the so-called “restrike” mode. The latter is characterized by rather large voltage fluctuations, corresponding to a broad range of conditions used in the manufacturing of plasma coatings. The mathematical model is based on the simultaneous solution of the conservation equations of mass, momentum, energy, electric current, and electromagnetic equations. These make it possible to predict the effect of operating parameters of the plasma torch on the motion of the anode root attachment over the anode surface and the time-evolution of arc voltage and flow fields in the nozzle. This article was originally published inBuilding on 100 Years of Success: Proceedings of the 2006 International Thermal Spray Conference (Seattle, WA), May 15–18, 2006, B.R. Marple, M.M. Hyland, Y.-Ch. Lau, R.S. Lima, and J. Voyer, Ed., ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2006.     

Microstructure and properties of flame sprayed tungsten carbide coatings

This article reports on feasibility experiments carried out with oxy-acetylene spray system with various oxygen to fuel ratios using two different tungsten carbide powders and powder feeding methods, to evaluate the newly developed fused WC, synthesised by transferred arc thermal plasma method. Transferred arc thermal plasma method is more economical and less energy intensive than the conventional arc method and results in a fused carbide powder with higher hardness. The microstructure and phase composition of powders and coatings were analysed by optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Carbon content of the powders and coatings were determined to study the decarburisation of the material during spraying process. Coatings were also characterised by their hardness and abrasive wear. The effects of metallurgical transformation and phase content are related to wear performance. The results demonstrate that the powders exhibit various degree of phase transformation during the spray process depending on the type of powder, powder feeding and spray parameters. The carbon loss during the spray process in excess of 45% resulted in reduced hardness and wear resistance of the coatings. Coatings with high amount of WC and W₂C along with FeW₃C showed higher wear resistance. Thus, coatings of high wear resistance can be produced using fused tungsten carbide powder with WC and W₂C phases, which can be economically synthesised by thermal plasma transferred arc method.     

From DC Time-Dependent Thermal Plasma Generation to Suspension Plasma-Spraying Interactions

This paper proposes an original route for modeling the time-dependent behavior of a plasma jet issued from a DC plasma-spraying torch operating with various kinds of gas mixtures. The hydrodynamic interactions between this jet and a liquid jet for suspension plasma-spraying or a classical particle injection for the deposition of coatings are studied. In a first step, the classical plasma spraying process was explored using the FLUENT CFD code. Zirconia particles, defined as Lagrangian particles, were injected in an Ar/H₂ flow and their positions, kinetic and thermal states were compared with experimental results. The trend and intensity of the values demonstrated a rather good agreement. In a second step, the suspension plasma spraying was investigated with the AQUILON CFD to simulate interactions between the plasma and aqueous jets. An Ar/H₂ plasma flow was simulated with the Large Eddy Scale turbulence model assumption, in which a liquid jet had been introduced. The behavior observed during the first stage of the interactions between the two fluids corresponded to expectations.     

Base-metal saturation of refractory carbide coatings produced by enhanced ceramic jets in electrothermally exploded powder spray

Tungsten carbide and tantalum carbide were sprayed onto substrates of mild steel by the electrothermally exploded powder spray (ELTEPS) process. High-speed x-ray radiography revealed that tungsten-carbide jets of molten particles guided inside a nozzle exhibited denser flow than unguided jets at the substrate. The velocity of the jet was approximately 800 m/s at the early stage of jetting. The ceramic coatings obtained from the guided spray consisted of carbides of a few to tens of micrometers in size, which were saturated by the base metal up to the top of the coating. The coatings exhibited diffusion of the sprayed ceramics and base metal at the interface of the deposit and substrate. The enhancement of the jet flow formed a microstructure of the ceramic coating, which was saturated by the base metal even without post heat treatment.     

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.