M. Van Wonderen, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Schiphol-Airport, Netherlands
By introducing electric arc spraying as an alternative for plasma spraying in 1993, the Engine Overhaul shop of KLM managed to transfer 90% of all metallic coatings from plasma into electric arc. This change was a big money safer.
Also the advantages of easy handling, forgiving process, high deposition efficiency and excellent coatings caused this process to be a big success for operators and management. Since 1993 KLM has been the most successful initiator of approvals and General Electric manual changes for new electric arc spray wires like Ni-Al, Al, Ni-Cr-Al, Inconel 718, Cu-Zn-Ag, Cu-Ni-In, Moly and Al-bronze. KLM bought 2 extra units in the late 90’s. KLM asked Praxair-Tafa in 1999 for a new sophisticated electric arc spray system for the aircraft industry with all kind of new features. This resulted in 2005 in the newest closed loop electric arc spray unit called the 9935. This paper will show KLM’s newest electric arc spray unit plus its unique features and will show the latest results on coatings sprayed by this unit.
KLM has always been an enthusiastic user of electric arc spraying. KLM started as first airline in industry in 1991 investigating the use of electric arc spray coatings on General Electric aircraft engines. In 1993 KLM bought its first electric arc spray equipment. Since then this spraying process became one of the most successful new thermal spray processes at KLM. In 2005 KLM bought the newest technology on electric arc spraying.
