Plasma Spray Coatings: Advanced Thermal Spray Solutions

Plasma Spray Coatings are a key part of the thermal spray coating family, utilizing the Air Plasma Spray (APS) process to produce high-quality coatings. APS employs a high-energy source, extremely high temperatures, and an inert spraying medium (typically Argon) to propel particles at high velocity. This process results in exceptionally pure coatings and enables the coating of materials that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to melt, such as thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), including ceramic coatings.

Plasma spray coatings are widely used across various industries, including Aviation/Aerospace, Energy (Industrial Gas Turbines), Semiconductors (Parts Cleaning), Marine (corrosion resistance), and Oil & Gas (wear resistance). These coatings are ideal for applications such as thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), abradable coatings, wear-resistant coatings, conductive coatings, and even decorative finishes (e.g., polymer spraying).

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Recommended Products for Thermal Spray

– 6605-07D: A basic single-sided glass cloth tape, ideal for non-critical abrasive blasting masking. It’s a reliable option for single-layer secondary masking.

– 6615-07: A double-sided fiberglass tape, 7 mil thick, featuring silicone adhesive on both sides and a crepe paper liner. This tape offers excellent conformability and strong adhesion to metal, making it perfect for face-to-back masking.

– 6615-12: A thicker, 12 mil double-sided fiberglass tape, ideal for single-layer plasma spray masking.

– 6625-11: An aluminum foil flame spray masking tape, 11 mil thick with a 4 mil foil layer, providing robust protection.

– 6525-08: An all-purpose abrasive blasting masking tape, suitable for both grit blasting and air plasma applications. This tape is constructed with silicone rubber-coated fiberglass and features a silicone adhesive.

– 6525-16: A double-layered masking tape that allows for single-layer application, reducing masking time by 50% in situations where two layers of standard tape would be required.

– 7422W: A heavy silicone-coated fiberglass fabric designed for demanding jobs that require protection of large surfaces. This fabric is more abrasive-resistant and is well-suited for both primary and secondary masking tasks.

Masking Compounds

– TacMold (A2023-A / A2023-B): A two-part silicone putty designed to withstand all forms of thermal spray, including GF-HVOF and LF-HVOF. TacMold is ideal for masking holes or intricate profiles and is reusable in some cases.

– TacBloc: A soft, conformable, putty-like material designed for masking holes, grooves, key slots, or other unique configurations. Unlike TacMold, TacBloc adheres directly to metal, making it ideal for areas where anchorage is difficult. TacBloc is suitable for all types of thermal spray.

For detailed guidance on maximizing the benefits of our TacMold & TacBloc Masking Compounds, please log in or register to download our comprehensive How-to Guide.