Abstract: Shaping the feed wire for a combustion wire thermal spray process improves the operating capability of the combustion wire gun through higher feed rates and high operating efficiencies. The efficiency of the wire melting is increased over conventional systems through increasing the surface area of the wire cross section and exposing more of the wire material directly to the burner jets.

Abstract: A valve for a combustion spray gun. An apparatus includes a torsion element rotatable relative to a housing of the combustion spray gun to a charged position. The apparatus also includes a biasing element applying a force to the torsion element, which force urges the torsion element to move a valve core to an off position. The apparatus further includes an engagement mechanism configured to selectively engage and hold the torsion element in the charged position.

Abstract: A solder composition for forming a solder joint. The composition includes a powder material including a solid metal matrix material and a filler material. The solid metal matrix material includes one or more of tin-silver-copper (Sn—Ag—Cu), tin-copper (Sn—Cu), tin-copper-nickel (Sn—Cu—Ni), tin-silver (Sn—Ag), tin-silver-bismuth (Sn—Ag—Bi), tin-bismuth-indium (Sn—Bi—In), tin-gold (Au—Sn), tin-zinc (Sn—Zn), tin-zinc-bismuth (Sn—Zn—Bi), tin-bismuth-silver (Sn—Bi—Ag), tin (Sn), tin-indium (Sn—In), indium (In), indium-silver (In—Ag), and tin-lead (Sn—Pb). The filler material includes one or more of copper (Cu), gold (Au), nickel (Ni), nickel-gold (Ni—Au), carbon, silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni) or nickel-gold (Ni—Au) coated carbon, the platinum group metals (PGM's), and their alloys.

Abstract: Method for performing a thermal spray process. Method includes heating and/or accelerating a gas to form an effluent gas stream, feeding a particulate-bearing carrier stream through an axial injection port into the effluent gas stream to form a mixed stream, in which the axial injection port includes a plurality of chevrons located at a distal end of said axial injection port, and impacting the mixed stream on a substrate to form a coating.

Abstract: Ceramic abradable materials, in particular thermally sprayable ceramic abradable powder materials, and abradable seals formed by thermally spraying the materials include dysprosia (Dy2O3) and zirconia (ZrO2). Coatings are porous whereby the porosity, in part, is induced by plastic or fugitive phases. Abradable seal coatings comprising dysprosia and zirconia exhibit improved thermal shock and sintering resistance and can be worn into tolerance by untreated, bare turbine blades, at least in certain regimes of relative blade speed and coating porosity. Ceramic abradable seal coatings comprising dysprosia and zirconia can be used up to 1200° C.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a material and method for obtaining a ceramic abradable system for high temperature applications. High purity partially stabilized zirconia and/or hafnia base material has higher sintering resistance compared to conventional 6-9 weight percent yttria stabilized zirconia systems. The benefits of these systems are higher service lifetime and low thermal conductivity to achieve high operating temperatures. System includes a superalloy substrate, oxidation resistant bond coat and a thick ceramic abradable top coat. Total coating thickness is about 0.5-5 mm. In some applications an intermediate layer of high purity partially stabilized zirconia or a partially stabilized YSZ/MCrAlY cermet is applied over the oxidation resistant bond coat. In other applications an abradable system is applied on top of a grid. Additional benefits should be reduced blade wear at high operating conditions.

Abstract: The invention is directed to high purity zirconia-based and/or hafnia-based materials and coatings for high temperature cycling applications. Thermal barrier coatings made from the invention high purity material was found to have significantly improved sintering resistance relative to coatings made from current materials of lower purity. The invention materials are high purity zirconia and/or hafnia partially or fully stabilized by one or any combinations of the following stabilizers: yttria, ytterbia, scandia, lanthanide oxide and actinide oxide. Limits for impurity oxide, oxides other than the intended ingredients, that lead to significantly improved sintering resistance were discovered. High purity coating structures suitable for high temperature cycling applications and for application onto a substrate were provided. In one structure, the coating comprises a ceramic matrix, porosity and micro cracks. In another structure, the coating comprises a ceramic matrix, porosity, macro cracks and micro cracks.

Abstract: A metal oxide powder includes a powder feed material structured and arranged to form molten droplets when melted in a plasma stream. The molten droplets are structured and arranged to form frozen spherical droplets under free-fall conditions such that said molten droplets have ample time for complete in-flight solidification before reaching a collection chamber.

Abstract: According to aspects of the present invention, metal oxide powder, such as yttria and alumina powder (feed material), is processed using a plasma apparatus. The process generally consists of in-flight heating and melting of the feed material by the plasma apparatus. The plasma apparatus contains a plasma torch with required power supply and cooling systems, a powder feeder, a chamber to collect the powder and a dedusting system. The heated powder forms molten spherical droplets that are rapidly cooled under free fall conditions. The plasma densification process removes some impurity oxides, modifies the morphology of the particle and increases the apparent density of the powder.

Abstract: Method for performing a thermal spray process. Method includes heating and/or accelerating a gas to form an effluent gas stream, feeding a particulate-bearing carrier stream through an axial injection port into the effluent gas stream to form a mixed stream, in which the axial injection port includes a plurality of chevrons located at a distal end of said axial injection port, and impacting the mixed stream on a substrate to form a coating.

Abstract: A multilayer coating has a first coating layer deposited on a substrate; a second coating layer deposited on the first coating layer; and a third coating layer deposited on the second coating layer. The first coating layer is substantially a metal, the second coating layer is a mixture of the metal and a polymeric material, and the third coating layer is substantially the polymeric material. The substrate is at least one of iron, iron pipe, steel, copper, nickel, concrete, wood, wood products, fiberglass, ceramic, plastic, and any other metal or non-metal material that can be used as a substrate, and the metal is at least one of zinc, aluminum, magnesium, indium, gallium, tellurium, and alloys thereof, whereby the metal used is anodic to the substrate. The polymeric material is at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), ethylene methacrylate acid copolymer (EMAA), a thermoplastic material and a thermoset material.

Abstract: A two stage kinetic energy spray device has a first stage first nozzle having a receiving end that receives a particulate stream, an injection end located axially to the first nozzle receiving end, the injection end receiving the particulate stream from the receiving end. A second stage has a second nozzle, the second nozzle having a gas receiving portion that receives an effluent gas, a convergent portion that is downstream from the gas receiving portion and a divergent portion that is downstream from the convergent portion, the convergent portion and the divergent portion meeting at a throat. The particle stream is accelerated to a first velocity in the first nozzle located within the second nozzle divergent portion The effluent gas is accelerated to a second velocity in the second nozzle. First nozzle injection end chevrons allow mixing of particulate and supersonic effluent streams prior to exiting the spray device.

Abstract: Powder injection apparatus, plasma gun, and method of use. Powder injection apparatus includes a shroud attachable to an outlet nozzle of a thermal spray apparatus and a substantially smooth and continuous inner wall defining a bowl through which a plume of the thermal spray apparatus travels. At least one port in the inner wall is structured and arranged to receive a powder injection nozzle that injects powder into the plume.

Abstract: An improved thermal spray apparatus and method of promotes mixing of axially fed particles in a carrier stream with a heated effluent stream without introducing significant turbulence into either the effluent or carrier streams. An axial injection port includes a plurality of chevrons at the distal end of the port. The chevrons are located radially around the circumference of the distal end of the axial injection port to increase the shared area between the two flow streams at the outlet of the port.

Abstract: Coatings on a substrate and application methods result in coatings that can withstand different types or groups of bulk cargo and operations. This novel approach includes use of a combination of layers of coating materials at certain thicknesses and applied with certain techniques. In certain embodiments, the coating system includes coatings applied to a pretreated substrate, e.g., blasted steel cargo hold plates of an oceangoing vessel. The coatings include a bond layer and a resistance layer, e.g., an anti-corrosive layer tailored to resist at least one of corrosion, erosion, impact and wear of the substrate.

Abstract: A valve for a combustion spray gun. An apparatus includes a torsion element rotatable relative to a housing of the combustion spray gun to a charged position. The apparatus also includes a biasing element applying a force to the torsion element, which force urges the torsion element to move a valve core to an off position. The apparatus further includes an engagement mechanism configured to selectively engage and hold the torsion element in the charged position.

Abstract: A solder composition for forming a solder joint. The composition includes a powder material including a solid metal matrix material and a filler material. The solid metal matrix material includes one or more of tin-silver-copper (Sn—Ag—Cu), tin-copper (Sn—Cu), tin-copper-nickel (Sn—Cu—Ni), tin-silver (Sn—Ag), tin-silver-bismuth (Sn—Ag—Bi), tin-bismuth-indium (Sn—Bi—In), tin-gold (Au—Sn), tin-zinc (Sn—Zn), tin-zinc-bismuth (Sn—Zn—Bi), tin-bismuth-silver (Sn—Bi—Ag), tin (Sn), tin-indium (Sn—In), indium (In), indium-silver (In—Ag), and tin-lead (Sn—Pb).

Abstract: The present invention provides a low density and porous zirconia (ZrO2) powder partially alloyed with one or more of yttria, scandia, dysprosia, ytterbia, or any of the oxides of lanthanide or actinide. The total amount of alloying oxides should be less than about 30 weight percent. The powder is manufactured by controlled sintering or light plasma densification of physically agglomerated, or chemically derived zirconia composite powder that contains proper amounts of yttria, scandia, dysprosia, ytterbia, or any of the oxides of lanthanide or actinide, or any combination of the aforementioned oxides. The resulting coating from use of the inventive powder has a monoclinic phase content of less than 5 percent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a powder blend or composite powder that is fed into a kinetic spray device, accelerated towards a substrate or part in order to form a composite solder with thermal and electrical properties better than existing solder. The other advantages of building a solder layer in this manner include a low oxide content to improve subsequent solderability, excellent control of the deposition thickness, excellent control of the deposition chemistry and lastly, high speed of manufacture.