Abstract

Thick and dense deposit of higher than 97% of theoretical density was formed by induction plasma spraying. To investigate the effects of powder morphology on the density of deposit, two different kinds of Yttria-Stabilized-Zirconia powder, METCO202NS (atomized & agglomerated) and AMDRY146 (fused & crushed), were used and compared. After plasma treatment, porous METCO202NS powder was all the more densely deposited and its density was increased. In addition to the effect of powder morphology, the process parameters such as, sheath gas composition, probe position, particle size and spraying distance, and so on, were evaluated. The result of experiment with AMDRY146 powder, particle size and spraying distance affected highly on the density of the deposit. The optimum process condition for the deposition of -75 µm of 20%-Yttria-Stabilized-Zirconia powder was 120/201/min of Ar/H_2 gas rate, 80 kW of plasma plate power, 8 cm of probe position and 150 Torr of spraying chamber pressure, at which its density showed 97.91% of theoretical density and its deposition rate was 20 mm/min. All the results were assessed by statistical approach what is called ANOVA.