Thermal Plasma Spray to Protect Large-Size Parts of Friction Joints against Wear

The authors thereof have developed a technology for application of wear-resistant coatings to protect against wear. The research team tested how efficiently powdered material could be heated in a plasma jet. They studied the physical and mechanical properties of coatings by kinetic micro-indentation and tested the plasma sprays for wear resistance. Tribological laboratory tests used the roller-on-roller method. Thus, WC/Co/Cr coatings had the most stable tribological properties and were more wear-resistant, compared to other tested coatings. Cylinder liners of heavy-duty diesel engines were enhanced by this technology. The pilot batch showed promise, as it might triple effectively the service life of diesel engines.