Analysis and optimization of gas-thermal spray process in terms of condensed phase velocity and temperature

Abstract

The paper presents the experimental results for velocity and tempertaure disibutions of the condensed phase in a plasma jet from the plasmatorch PNK-50 (design from ITAM SB RAS, Novosibirsk). The plasma jet is used at different operational modes for thermal spraying of nickel alloy powder PR-NKh16SR3. The measurements for average velocity (230–280 m/s) and temperature (2290–2410 K) of sprayed particles were matched to data on microhardness (630–710 HV) and porosity (1.7–13.5 %) of samples. Results were transferred into coating properties maps plotted in coordinates “arc current vs. torch offset” and “particle velocity vs. particle temperature”. Experiments demonstrated the change in parameters of condensed phase in the jet after performimg of maintenance job for the plasmatorch. We propose the method for adjusting the operational parameters of thermal spraying equipment using optical methods of control for particle velocity and particle temperature. The exemplary apparatus function of the plasmatorch was plotted; an approach is proposed for optimization and transfer of spraying technology of coatings with specified properties between equipment from different manufacturers, different class and power.