Abstract: The invention relates to a material based on an oxide ceramic for the manufacture of a surface layer (5) by means of a thermal coating process including aluminium oxide and zirconium oxide, with the material additionally containing chromium oxide for the simultaneous optimization of the hardness and toughness of the surface layer (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for thermal spraying (1) including a spray gun (2) with a burner (3), wherein an operating media (5) can be supplied to the spray gun (2) via a feed line (4), and a base part (6) which is in communication with a supply unit (8) for the operating medium (5) via a supply line (7). A releasable coupling device (9) is provided, with the feed line (4) including an adapter part (10) such that the adapter part (10) can be connected to the base part (6) by means of the releasable coupling device (9).

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal spraying apparatus (1) for coating a surface (2) of a substrate (3) by means of a coating material (4). The thermal spraying apparatus (1) includes a spray pistol (5) with a heating device for heating the coating material (4) in a heating zone (6) and also a charging apparatus (7) with a feed (8) through which the coating material (4) can be introduced into the heating zone (6). In this arrangement the thermal spraying apparatus is so designed that a relative position (9) between the feed (8) and the heating zone (6) can be changed in the operating state.

Abstract: A method is proposed for arc spraying by means of a spray gun (1). The spray gun includes two electrically conductive spray wires (2) and at least one first supply device (3) for supplying a fluid (4), with an electrical voltage being applied to the spray wires (2), the spray wires (2) being fed by means of a wire guide (5), an arc (6) being ignited by the electrical voltage, the spray wires (2) being converted into a melt (8) in a melting region (7) and the melt (8) being applied by the fluid (4) to the surface (9) of a body (10). In this connection, particles (11) from a storage container (12) are supplied to the melt (8) by the fluid (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a spray powder for coating a substrate (2) in particular for coating a bearing part (2) of a bearing apparatus, said spray powder having at least the following composition: zinc=5% to 30% by weight, tin=1% to 10% by weight, silicon=0.1% to 3% by weight, aluminium=0.1% to 7% by weight, iron=0.01% to 2% by weight, manganese=0.01% to 4% by weight, cobalt=0.01 to 3% by weight, copper=the balance to 100% in % by weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spray powder for coating a substrate (2), in particular for coating a bearing part (2) of a bearing apparatus, said spraying powder having at least the following composition: carbon=0.1% to 1.5% by weight, manganese=0.1% to 8% by weight, sulphur=0.1% to 2% by weight, copper=0.1% to 12% by weight and iron=the balance in % by weight to 100%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plasma spraying apparatus (1) including a plasma torch (2) for heating up a spray powder (3) in a heating zone (4) and a metering unit (5) for metering the spray powder (3), said metering unit (5) for conveying the spray powder (3) into an injection unit (6) by means of a conveyor gas (7) under a pre-determined pressure being connected with a conveyor gas unit (9) via a conveyor gas line (8). The injection unit (6) has an inlet (61) and an outlet (62) designed as a powder injector (62) so that the spray powder (3) can be supplied from the metering unit (5) to the injector unit (6) through the inlet (61) by means of the conveyor gas (7) via an injector line (10) to the injector unit (6).

Abstract: In the method for the coating of a substrate (3), a hybrid coating method is carried out with a thermal process jet (2) which makes it possible to combine the properties of a thermal spray method with those of a reactive vapour phase deposition. The properties of the process jet are determined by controllable process parameters, in particular by the parameters of pressure, enthalpy, composition of a process gas mixture (G) and composition and form of application of a coating material (M). The coating material is partly or completely evaporated in dependence on the controllable parameters. The phases of the coating material present in vapour form (23b) and, optionally, in condensed, i.e. solid or liquid form, (23a) are at least partly deposited on the substrate. The relative proportion of vapour and/or of condensed phase for the coating material (23) transported in the process jet is determined by a diagnostic measuring method (D).

Abstract: The guide apparatus in accordance with the invention for the guiding of a workpiece (2), in particular of a rotationally asymmetrical workpiece (2), having a porous surface coating (3) in a polishing container (4) has two guide members (6) spaced apart by at least one spacer (5) as well as a holder (7) for the positioning of the workpiece (2) between the two guide members (6) such that the workpiece (2) can be guided in the polishing container (4) in a non-contact manner with respect to the polishing container (4).

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an apparatus is provided for the surface working of a workpiece (2) by blasting with an abrasive blasting material (3), including a storage container (4) for the blasting material (3), a metering device (5) and a device for blasting (6). The device for blasting (6) has a blasting material feed (7) with an inlet (8) and an outlet (9) for the blasting material (3), the blasting material (3) being able to be fed to a jet region (10) through the blasting material feed (7) and the outlet (9). The device for blasting (6) furthermore includes a pressure supply (11) for the deflection of a blasting material flow (12) emerging from the outlet (9) by means of a pressure medium (13), with control means (14) for the introduction of the blasting material flow (12) being provided at the inlet of the blasting material feed (7).

Abstract: A surface coating of the working surface of a cylinder of a combustion engine is disclosed, having the combination of the following characteristics: The coating is applied by plasma spraying; the surface of the coating comprises a plurality of open pores; the degree of porosity of the surface of the coating amounst to between 0.5 and 10%; the statistic mean pore size amounts to between 1 and 50 &mgr;m, whereby at least nearly exclusively pores with a size of less than 100 &mgr;m are present; the pores are stochastically distributed in the surface of the coating, both as far as the area and the size is concerned; the coating comprises a content of bound oxygen of between 0.5 and 8% by weight; the coating comprises inclusions of FeO and Fe3O4 crystals, serving as solid lubricants; and the roughness of the surface of the coating is adjusted by mechanically finishing to an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of between 0.02 and 0.4 &mgr;m and to a mean peak-to-valley distance Rz of between 0.5 and 5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The guide apparatus in accordance with the invention for the guiding of a workpiece (2), in particular of a rotationally asymmetrical workpiece (2), having a porous surface coating (3) in a polishing container (4) has two guide members (6) spaced apart by at least one spacer (5) as well as a holder (7) for the positioning of the workpiece (2) between the two guide members (6) such that the workpiece (2) can be guided in the polishing container (4) in a non contact manner with respect to the polishing container (4).

Abstract: An apparatus is proposed for the thermal coating of a surface of a workpiece (20) comprising a torch (2) for the production of a coating jet (P), wherein the torch (2) is arranged in a processing station (14) such that the coating jet (P) extends substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, and comprising adjustment means (40; 45; 60; 70) which align the workpiece (20) such that the surface to be coated is perpendicular to the coating jet (P) during the coating process.

Abstract: A method is proposed for arc spraying by means of a spray gun (1). The spray gun includes two electrically conductive spray wires (2) and at least one first supply device (3) for supplying a fluid (4), with an electrical voltage being applied to the spray wires (2), the spray wires (2) being fed by means of a wire guide (5), an arc (6) being ignited by the electrical voltage, the spray wires (2) being converted into a melt (8) in a melting region (7) and the melt (8) being applied by the fluid (4) to the surface (9) of a body (10). In this connection, particles (11) from a storage container (12) are supplied to the melt (8) by the fluid (4).

Abstract: A surface layer for forming a cylinder barrel wall of a combustion engine block is proposed. The surface layer has separate phases of components that are separated from the phase of the remaining materials. The surface layer is produced by plasma spraying an iron containing spraying powder, incorporating all components of the layer to be produced. Such a surface layer may be applied easily and shows a significantly improved behavior regarding the machining thereof, without negatively influencing other important characteristics of the layer material, like wear resistance and coefficient of friction vis-à-vis the material of the piston rings. Preferred components of the spraying powder are, besides Fe, Cr, MN, S and C. Moreover, the spraying powder can contain As, Te, Se, Sb and/or Bi.

Abstract: To improve the machining and processing, respectively, as well as the tribologic properties of ferrous coatings for the working surfaces of combustion engine cylinder blocks applied by a plasma spraying operation, a ferrous coating having a content of bound oxygen in the amount of between 1 to 4% by weight is suggested. Such coatings can be realized, for example, by adding an amount of 200 to 1000 normalized liters air per minute during the plasma spraying operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for protecting the walls of a row of cylinders of an engine block from contamination when the walls of the other row of cylinders of the engine block are thermally coated. For this purpose, the apparatus comprises a plurality of inflatable hollow body members that can be moved into the interior of the cylinders whose walls are to be protected and inflated once they are in position in the interior of the particular cylinders. The hollow body members comprise a dimensionally stable inner sleeve member that is enclosed by an inflatable elastic envelope member. The inflatable hollow body members are arranged in two groups located opposite to each other.

Abstract: Al2O3 based layers having a total thickness of more than 0.3 mm are produced on a substrate by plasma jet spraying, said Al2O3 based layers having a laminar sandwiched structure wherein at least one Al2O3 layer is interpolated between two intermediate layers which are produced by plasma jet spraying as well, said intermediate layers consisting of a ceramic laminated material which is different from Al2O3 and which on cooling increases in volume by phase transition. Preferred materials for said intermediate layers are Al2O3/ZrO2, Al2O3/TiO2, ZrO2/Y2O3, Y2O3/ZrO2, ZrO2/MgO ZrO2/CeO2 and ZrO2/CaO alloy systems.

Abstract: Ferrous coatings of the cylinder working surfaces of combustion engine blocks have a content of bound oxygen in the amount of between 1 to 4% by weight. They are characterized by extraordinary properties as far as tribology and the possibility of processing, e.g. machining, are concerned. Particularly, the coefficient of friction and the tendency to scuffing are substantially reduced. Such coatings can be realized, for example, by adding an amount of 200 to 1000 normalized liters air per minute during the plasma spraying operation.

Abstract: A method for thermally coating the cylinder barrels of a cylinder block of a combustion engine is disclosed. Air flows through the cylinder bore whose barrel is to be coated. This air flow is generated by means of extraction, whereby the air is extracted from the bottom of the cylinder bore through the crank case of the cylinder block. For extracting the air, a plurality of extraction collars are provided that are connected to an extraction fan and are moved from the bottom through the crankcase to the lower end of the cylinder bores. The pressure of the air flowing through extraction conduits to the extraction fan is measured and the value of the velocity of the air flow through the cylinder bore is calculated. An adjustment mechanism controls air chokes in the air conduits in response to the calculated flow velocity present in the cylinder bores.