The thermal spray industry has an estimated $4 to $5
billion in annual sales worldwide. Despite the
widespread use of thermal spray, the science behind
the process is still not fully understood. Thermal
spray coatings have been traditionally designed
empirically, with much trial and error in the
laboratory, until a set of input parameters that
produces a satisfactory coating is identified.
Knowledge of the in-flight droplet behavior and
spray plume characteristics is important to
understanding the formation of thermal spray
microstructures, which is in turn necessary for the...