M Bray

Supersonic laser deposition of Ti and Ti64 alloys

The importance of metal coating technologies drives the continuous improvement of metal deposition techniques for application in a wide range of industrial sectors. This work presents the foundations of a new process technology for the deposition of Ti and Ti64 coatings on various substrates using supersonic powder streams and impact site laser heating. Full density metallic deposits are obtained under appropriate impact conditions without the need for transiting the melting point of the deposited material or substrate leading to large energy savings. Details of the experimental approach will be presented along with the general characteristics of the titanium coatings produced using this novel coatings method.The importance of metal coating technologies drives the continuous improvement of metal deposition techniques for application in a wide range of industrial sectors. This work presents the foundations of a new process technology for the deposition of Ti and Ti64 coatings on various substrates using supersonic powder streams and impact site laser heating. Full density metallic deposits are obtained under appropriate impact conditions without the need for transiting the melting point of the deposited material or substrate leading to large energy savings. Details of the experimental approach will be presented along with the general characteristics of the titanium coatings produced using this novel coatings method.

Development of a laser assisted material spray process

Metal coating and cladding techniques employ high temperatures to melt the metal particles which can undermine the integrity and stability of the resulting deposit material and substrate. This paper introduces a new process for the deposition of metallic coatings in the solid state using a supersonic particle stream in conjunction with laser energy input, named Laser Assisted Material Spray, LAMS. This alternative approach circumvents, at lower cost, some key problems associated with current conventional high temperature thermal spray and laser-clad processes, as well as the Cold-Spray process. The quality of the bond between deposit and substrate, together with structural integrity of the deposit, rely heavily on the energy supplied to the system, whether it be by propulsion or heat source, as in related thermal spray methods. LAMS allows the precise and controlled addition of laser energy to both the supersonic metal particle stream and substrate interaction site. Preliminary results show that deposition can be achieved without melting the deposit material or generating a heat-affected zone in the substrate. Such a deposit does not form without the supplementary energy input of the laser.Metal coating and cladding techniques employ high temperatures to melt the metal particles which can undermine the integrity and stability of the resulting deposit material and substrate. This paper introduces a new process for the deposition of metallic coatings in the solid state using a supersonic particle stream in conjunction with laser energy input, named Laser Assisted Material Spray, LAMS. This alternative approach circumvents, at lower cost, some key problems associated with current conventional high temperature thermal spray and laser-clad processes, as well as the Cold-Spray process. The quality of the bond between deposit and substrate, together with structural integrity of the deposit, rely heavily on the energy supplied to the system, whether it be by propulsion or heat source, as in related thermal spray methods. LAMS allows the precise and controlled addition of laser energy to both the supersonic metal particle stream and substrate interaction site. Preliminary results show that depositio...

Recent developments of the laser-assisted cold spray process and deposit characterisation

Laser-assisted Cold Spray (LCS) is a new coating and fabrication process which combines the supersonic powder beam found in Cold Spray (CS) with laser heating of the deposition zone. LCS retains the advantages of CS; solid-state deposition, high build rate and the ability to deposit onto a range of substrates, while reducing operating costs by removing the need to use gas heating and helium as the process gas. Recent improvements in powder delivery and laser energy coupling to workpiece have been undertaken to improve deposition efficiency (DE) and build rate, while real-time temperature logging allows greater management of deposition conditions and deposit characteristics.Laser-assisted Cold Spray (LCS) is a new coating and fabrication process which combines the supersonic powder beam found in Cold Spray (CS) with laser heating of the deposition zone. LCS retains the advantages of CS; solid-state deposition, high build rate and the ability to deposit onto a range of substrates, while reducing operating costs by removing the need to use gas heating and helium as the process gas. Recent improvements in powder delivery and laser energy coupling to workpiece have been undertaken to improve deposition efficiency (DE) and build rate, while real-time temperature logging allows greater management of deposition conditions and deposit characteristics.