Investigation of particle in-flight characteristics during atmospheric plasma spraying of yttria-stabilized ZrO2: Part 1. Experimental

A detailed investigation of the relationship between the parameters of the spray process and the in-Right properties of the particles was carried out using a multivariate statistical approach. A full factorial designed experi ment concerning the spray process was performed, the spray gun parameters' current, argon Row rate, hydrogen flow rate, and powder feed rate being sel ected to control the process. The particle properties, viz velocity, temper ature, and diameter, were determined using an optical measurement system, D PV 2000, In addition, the standard deviations of, and the correlations betw een, the measured particle properties were analyzed. The results showed cur rent to have the strongest impact on particle velocity and particle tempera ture and argon flow rate to be the only parameter with an inverse effect on velocity and temperature.