Study of the in-flight characteristics of particles for different configurations of cascade plasma torches

The cascade plasma torches should gradually replace the standard F4 type torches consisting of two electrodes without neutrodes. For industry, the advantages are a better lifespan of these electrodes but also a less expensive use of the process in terms of the type of gas to be used and of the power to be provided to the plasma, as well as a possible flowrate of injected powder increased. However, the configuration of a cascade torch is still poorly studied and notably the influence of the length of the body of the anode segmented by neutrodes.

This is why this work consists in studying the in-flight characteristics of alumina particles for different cascading lengths and operating parameters. Particle velocities and temperatures are measured using diagnostic tools. From this analyses, alumina coatings will be manufactured in order to verify the correlation between these in-flight measurements and the microsturcture of the coating obtained.