Selection of Optimum Surface Modification Processes to Facilitate Innovative Design, Maximize Performance, and Minimize Total Cost of Ownership

Today’s design engineer has a broad range of coating processes and/or materials available to modify a component’s surface characteristics.  Choosing the right process / material combination is critical to system functionality as these engineered surfaces are no longer an afterthought – they are designed as part of a total system.  Selection of the optimum surface modification process and materials will enable the design engineer to create the best design and performance characteristics for the application while controlling total cost of ownership.  This presentation will provide an overview of Thermal Spray, Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Electron Beam PVD, Chemical Vapor Deposition, Vapor and Pack Diffusion, Slurry Overlays and Diffusion, Laser cladding, and Entrapment electroplating coating processes.  Key process characteristics, typical materials, deposited coating performance, and relative costs will be discussed with reference to specific application coating selection examples.  Where possible, comparisons to similar thermal sprayed coatings will be made.