Engineers from Kermetico, Benicia, Calif., and H.C. Starck, Germany, discuss the economical HVAF Flash Carbide process in a presentation at the ITSC conference in Orlando titled HVAF Flash Carbide as Economical Alternative to Electroplated Hard Chrome. The authors point out that applications of thermal spray coatings for replacement of electroplated hard chrome are limited due to the high cost of existing thermal spray coatings. This cost is associated with the need to spray relatively thick layers followed by grinding to specified dimensions. A substantial part of the applied coating is removed during grinding.
However, the developed HVAF “Flash Carbide” process deposits very fine powders of WC-10Co-4Cr, creating dense layers at thickness as low as 25-40 microns, with surface roughness Ra 1.5-1.6 microns. Such thickness is comparable with the common tolerances on rods and shafts, while as-sprayed coating roughness is similar to a typical ground surface. As a result, the dimensional grinding is not needed.
Subsequent polishing removes only 5-9 microns to reach Ra 0.1-0.2 micron – sufficient for the majority of industrial applications for electroplated hard chrome. Superior properties and low cost of the HVAF “Flash Carbide” makes it an attractive economical alternative to EHC.
Wednesday, May 9, 2:20 PM, Sarasota 1-2 (Gaylord Palms Resort)
Dr. Andrew A. Verstak , Kermetico Inc., Benicia, California
Dr. Benno Gries , H.C. Starck STC GmbH, Goslar, Germany
Learn more: https://www.asminternational.org/web/itsc-2018/home
