Cold spraying: Innovative layers for new applications

In recent years, results of many studies have been published that enhance understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of cold-spray coating generation and bonding as well as coating characteristics. From the points of view of a job shop in thermal spraying and of a user of cold-spraying equipment, a procedure, being used in development of new applications is presented herein. In addition to the technical requirements, some general factors determining the success of industrial use of spraying are shown. Examples of coldsprayed coatings are described to shos both the possibility of rapid integration of this new technique in established coating jobs as wells as exploration and use of new possibilities in cold spraying and development of applications that have not yet been a focus of thermal spray techniques. Suggestions for further research and development activities are made on the basis of practical cold-spray experience. The original version of this paper was published in the CD ROM Thermal Spray Connects: Explore Its Surfacing Potential, Internaltional Thermal Spray Conference, sponsored by DVS, ASM International, and IIW International Institute of Welding, Basel, Switzerland, May 2–4, 2005, DVS-Verlag GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany.