Marc-Manuel Matz

Practical Comparison of Cylindrical Nozzle and De Laval Nozzle for Wire Arc Spraying

In this article, two different nozzle designs (cylindrical nozzle and de Laval nozzle) are compared for use in wire arc spraying. The choice of nozzle is of particular importance because its geometry has a significant influence on the spraying result. The materials used for spraying are steel and copper. By using the de Laval atomizing gas nozzle, the aim is to improve adhesion on the one hand while reducing cost on the other. These objectives have been achieved for the most part, indicating that continued research and development in this area would be useful. Significant potential exists to optimize the efficiency of both the free gas jet and nozzle which have considerable impact on the gas velocity and thus, ultimately, on the spraying result. The measurements carried out have shown that there is a close correlation between the velocity of the gas flow and atomization of the droplets. An explanatory model for varying spraying results with different wire materials using open nozzle systems with de Laval orifice is given and confirmed. For new burner head constructions, an interaction of the atomizing gas nozzle, the contact tips, and wire materials must be considered to achieve all benefits of a de Laval nozzle.