Chapter 42

Suspension Plasma Spray of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Coatings

P. Xu

P. Xu

Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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J. Mostaghimi

J. Mostaghimi

Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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T. W. Coyle

T. W. Coyle

Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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L. Pershin

L. Pershin

Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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First published: 10 May 2017
Citations: 1
Book Series:Ceramic Transactions Series

Abstract

This chapter examines the effects of suspension solvent, plasma gas compositions, arc voltage fluctuations and standoff distances on coatings microstructure. Zirconia coatings were fabricated through the SPS process with sub-micron yttria-stabilized-zirconia suspension using two distinct torches in an experiment. The large size of the lamellae in conventional plasma spray makes it very difficult to deposit nano/submicron structured coatings. The liquid carrier provides the fine particles with enough mass and momentum to penetrate into the core of plasma jet. When the suspension is injected into the plasma, it undergoes a series of thermo-kinetic changes. The injected suspension stream or atomized droplets firstly experience the aerodynamic breakup process and become tiny droplets. With the vaporization of solvent from the droplets, the fine particles dispersed in the solvent are sintered to form an individual particle, a small agglomerate, a large agglomerate, or sometimes the large agglomerate explodes forming several small agglomerates.