Metal Spraying or Metallizing
Metal spraying is a process whereby molten metal is applied in a form of a fine spray to the surface of the base metal. The molten metal binds completely with the surface of the work piece as a form of coating.
History of Metal spraying
The basic principles of metal spraying were firstly produced by Dr.Ulrich Schoop in around 1910 when he designed a nozzle that permitted an annular flame to heat the powder particles as they were propelled onto a surface. Next, he worked on the utilization of a wire in place of the powder and the device became known as a wire metallizing gun.
The term metal spray refers to the application of a metal coating to a base metal. Later, when it became possible to deposit ceramic materials, from this process, a more general term known as flame spraying was coined.
Flame spraying is applied to the deposition of both metallic and non-metallic materials, with the help of a combustion flame. With the developments of plasma generating devices and electric arc units, flame spraying could no longer comprise all types of deposition and another term known as thermal spraying entered the picture.
Thermal spraying covers all deposition processes such as metalizing (or metal spraying) flame spraying, electric arc spraying, plasma spraying, and detonation spraying by which surfacing materials are made molten or semi-molten by a heat source and propelled onto the base metal surface by a rapidly moving gas stream.
Classification of Thermal spraying method
The thermal spraying process can be classified as per the uses of heat sources such as:
- Combustion flame spraying,
- Electric arc spraying,
- Plasma arc spraying, and
- Detonation gun spraying, etc.
It can be described as per the uses of surfacing materials in the form of Powder spraying and Wire or rod spraying also.
Highlights
What is Metal spraying?
It is a process whereby molten metal is applied in a form of a fine spray to the surface of the base metal. The molten metal binds completely with the surface of the workpiece as a form of coating.
What is Thermal spraying?
Thermal spraying is a process whereby, finely divided particles of molten/semi-molten metal, inter metallic metal oxide, or plastic are deposited on the workpiece to form an adhesive coating on a suitable substrate.
What is Flame spraying?
Flame spraying defines the deposition of both metallic and non-metallic materials by the use of a combustion flame.