PLASMA-KINETIC SPRAY APPARATUS & METHOD

摘要

A coating system that applies a coating of particles to a surface of an article. The coating system comprises a hybrid plasma torch which may include a cathode, a first plasma gas chamber, a first mixing chamber, a plasma generator for generating an arc column of plasma, a second mixing chamber for mixing a main gas, an at least partially ionized first plasma gas and a second gas that was mixed in the first mixing chamber, wherein the second mixing chamber is dimensioned to receive a plurality of powder particles suspended in a carrier gas, and an accelerator assembly for accelerating the mixture of the main gas, the at least partially ionized first plasma gas, the second plasma gas and the powder particles into a high-velocity stream and for directing the high-velocity stream against the surface of the article. A method of applying the coating of particles is also provided.