Thermal Plasmas: Influence of Current Modulationand gas usage on wire arc spray processperformance

Thermal plasma research has been around for over a century, thus one might argue that processes involving these plasmas are well understood and hardly any open questions remain. Yet due to the widespread industrial use of thermal plasmas in the field of joining, cutting and the applications of coatings new challenges arise owed to the advent of new materials or the drive to reduce cost or improve quality. These challenges may be met by using technological innovations like innovative fast power supplies. The use of current pulsing and its effect on arc root movement in the presence of strong gas flows is described as well as the variation of process gas mixtures for wire arc spraying.