Capturing the Influence of Jet Fluctuations on Particles in Plasma Spraying.

Instabilities and fluctuations of the plasma jet in a thermal spray process can have a significant influence on the particle in-flight temperatures and velocities, affecting the properties of resulting plasma-sprayed coatings. Presented in this paper is a novel method for capturing the effects particles are exposed to in the plasma spraying process. High-speed camera images of a plasma jet generated by a cascaded three-cathode plasma generator (TriplexPro-210) were recorded for varying operating conditions.

Development of Thermal Spray Processes for Depositing Coatings on Thermoplastics.

Thermoplastics combine high freedom of design with economical mass production. Metallic coatings on thermoplastics enable power and signal transmission, shield sensitive parts inside of housings and can reduce the temperature in critical areas by functioning as a heat sink. The most used technical thermoplastics are polyamides (PA), while the described use cases are often realized using Cu.

In situ investigation of production processes in a large chamber scanning electron microscope.

A large-chamber scanning electron microscope (LC-SEM) provides an ideal platform for the installation of large-scale in situ experiments. Our LC-SEM has internal chamber dimensions of 1,2 × 1,3 × 1,4 m (W × H × D) (Fig.1) and makes it possible to incorporate novel in situ experimental devices, which are reported on here.

Preparation of spherical calcium phosphate granulates suitable for the biofunctionalization of active brazed titanium alloy coatings.

Titanium-based alloys can be actively brazed onto bio-inert ceramics and potentially be used as biocompatible coatings. To further improve their bioactivity in vivo, introduction of calcium phosphate (CaP)-based granulates onto their surface layer is possible. For this, mechanically stable CaP-based granulates need to be able to withstand the demand of the brazing process.

Crystalline gamma-Al2O3 physical vapour deposition-coating for steel thixoforging tools.

The process of thixoforming, which has been part of many researches during the last decades, combines the advantages of forging and casting for the shaping of metallic components. But due to the high temperatures of semi-solid steel alloys high demands on the tools are requested. To resists the thermal and mechanical loads (wear, friction, thermal and thermomechanical fatigue) protecting thin films are necessary.

Nano structured physical vapor deposited coatings by means of picosecond laser radiation.

Molding of nano structures by injection molding leads to special requirements for the tools e.g., wear resistance and as low as possible release forces of the molded components.