A Key to Profitability: Surface Engineering Using Thermal Spray Technology
Dr. Robert Tucker, FASM - Vice President ASM International(We apologize.) Dr. Tucker gave an excellent presentation; however it was very rapid, and my notes were too sketchy to reconstruct all the key points. Below is the summary Dr. Tucker provided prior to the talk. --- the Webmaster
The surfaces of components of manufacturing equipment usually determine how long and how well the equipment will satisfactorily produce a product. The surfaces of products are usually critical to their value and performance as well. For both manufacturing equipment and products judicious surface engineering enhances performance and adds value. Thermal spray coatings are often the optimum choice out of the plethora of coating processes and coating materials available today. This talk will focus on the thermal spray process, some of the characteristics of the coatings, and a selection of applications from various industries that illustrate how the coatings can substantially improve the performance of equipment and products, reducing manufacturing costs and adding value to the products.