A New Electromagnetic Powder Deposition System

Existing state of the art thermal spray processes (HVOF, D-Gun, Plasma Spraying) are limited to powder velocities of about 1 km/sec because they rely on the thermodynamic expansion of gases. A new thermal spray process using electromagnetic forces can accelerate powder particles to a final velocity of up to 2 km/sec. At this velocity powder particles have sufficient kinetic energy to melt their own mass and an equivalent substrate mass on impact. The process is based on railgun technology developed by the Department of Defense. A railgun is filled with argon gas and a high energy electrical pulse, provided by a capacitor bank, drives the gas down the railgun to a final velocity of up to 4 km/sec. This gas passes over a powder cloud and accelerates the powder through drag forces. The electrical and powder discharge frequency can be adjusted so that the deposition rate and thermal input to the substrate can be controlled.