Abstract: This invention involves the application of dense, metallurgically bonded deposits of tungsten and tungsten rhenium coatings onto preformed based x-ray anodes to be used as focal tracks. The coatings are applied by low pressure DC plasma spraying. The invention also includes heat treatments that further densify the as-applied coatings improving their suitability for use as focal tracks.

Abstract: This invention involves the application of dense, metallurgically bonded deposits of tungsten and tungsten rhenium coatings onto preformed based x-ray anodes to be used as focal tracks. The coatings are applied by low pressure DC plasma spraying. The invention also includes heat treatments that further densify the as-applied coatings improving their suitability for use as focal tracks.

Abstract: A process for diffusion bonding a coating of Nitinol intermetallic compound to a surface of a metallic substrate includes heating and cleaning the surface of the substrate to a metallurgically clean condition by creating a plasma arc in a plasmatron and partially ionizing and heating a stream of inert gas in the plasma arc. The stream of partially ionized gas from the plasmatron is directed to the surface of the substrate to remove oxides and other contaminants from the surface. Nitinol powder is entrained in a mixture of hydrogen and argon gasses heated and ionized in the plasmatron, thereby heating the powder to a partially molten state. The partially molten power is ejected in the gas mixture from the plasmatron at high velocity and impacts against the metallurgically clean heated substrate surface to produce a diffusion bond between the Nitinol intermetallic compound and the metal substrate.

Abstract: A supersonic plasma system in which a vacuum source creates a low static pressure environment within an enclosure containing a plasma gun and a workpiece has plural cathodes of sealed, modular construction in conjunction with a common anode, to provide higher levels of operating power and other advantages which flow from a segmented cathode gun configuration. Inert gas independently introduced into the plural cathodes undergoes swirling motion over the cathode tips. The anode is of modular construction for easy replacement in order to change the configuration of a nozzle, a plurality of arc chambers receiving the plural cathodes or a central mixing chamber between the nozzle and the arc chambers within the anode and coupled to a central powder feed. The powder feed includes a replaceable insert which includes at least one and preferably a plurality of powder feed ports into the various arc chambers.

Abstract: Metal particles in powdered form are cleaned of oxides by a method in which the particles are introduced into a plasma stream in the presence of a continuous negative transfer arc. Ionization of a gas within a plasma gun produces a plasma stream into which the metal particles are introduced at a location within the plasma gun. A negative transfer arc power source is continuously coupled between the plasma gun and a cathode downstream of the plasma gun and within the plasma stream to remove oxide coatings from the metal particles as they travel along the plasma stream to either a receptacle located downstream from the cathode or to a substrate which forms the cathode and onto which a relatively oxide-free coating is formed by the metal particles. Such methods of oxide removal are particularly effective with highly oxidizable refractory materials such as titanium, tantalum and aluminum.

Abstract: A thermal turbomachine casing having a multilayer heat insulation liner including a metallic bond coat in direct contact with the casing wall, a ceramic heat insulation layer bonded to the bond coat, and preferably an abradable coating in the form of a porous, predominantly metallic, top layer bonded to the ceramic layer. A metallic honeycomb may be fixed to the casing wall, in which case the bond coat, ceramic layer, and top layer are within the cells of the honeycomb. The bond coat and ceramic layer may partially or completely fill the honeycomb cells. The layers may be deposited by flame or plasma spraying, preferably after peening the casing wall. Each succeeding layer is deposited before any cooling of the preceeding layer.

Abstract: A device for testing the contact-action effects between rotating and stationary structural elements of flow-related engines, such as turbine power plants, is formed of a motor driven rotary supporting arrangement for a rotational test element and a support frame for mounting a stationary test element so that the contact-action effects between the rotational test element and the stationary test element can be evaluated. The support frame for mounting the stationary test element includes positioning devices for adjusting the position of the stationary test element which is mounted on the support frame by way of a mounting block that is suspended by spring rods which are fastened to a yoke-forming portion of the support frame.