Protective thermal spray coatings for polymer matrix composites
Abstract
Polymer matrix composites were coated with metals, alloys and intermetallic compounds
using the thermal spray coating technology. Air plasma spraying and flame spraying were
the two spraying techniques primarily used during this entire study. Coatings were
sprayed with two configuration; coatings with bond coating and coating without bond
coating. Pilot runs were conducted to develop thermal spray process parameters for a two
factor study, namely torch power and torch-substrate standoff distance, with other
process parameters kept constant. Eventually a process window was established to carry
out the final coating runs. Scanning electron microscopy was carried out to determine
coating porosity and evaluate the microstructures and mechanical testing was performed
to determine the bond strength and the erosion resistance of the coatings due to sand
blasting. It is seen that the nickel aluminum intermetallic compound has better erosion
resistance and bond strength than the nickel aluminum alloy. It is also seen that the
process parameters, torch power and torch-substrate standoff distance do not significantly
affect the coating properties.
Description
Thesis (M.S.)--Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
"December 2006."