W. Tillmann, Technische Universität Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany; D. -. I. E. Vogli, Dortmund University, dortmund, Germany

Summary: The arc spraying process represents one of the most economic at thermal spraying methods for the deposition of metallic layers. To use the manifold possibilities, that the arc spraying offers to deposit carbide or oxide layers, the exact knowledge of the physical and thermodynamic characteristics of the in-flight particle are necessary. Therefore the application of diagnostic tools to monitor particle formation, their properties in flight and solidification on the substrate is needed to tailor the process and the coatings quality. To gain the fundamental understanding of the arc spraying process through diagnostic approaches is the aim of this research work. The work is focused on understanding of the particle formation, the particle trajectories, the solidification on the substrate as well as the effects of spraying parameters variation on these mechanisms and on the coatings quality. Experimental approaches to determine the in-flight properties of the sprayed particles in combination with metallographic analyses are employed to establish these correlations.