Experimental and simulation studies for optimisation of plasma spraying of yttrium oxide powder

Yttrium oxide coating by virtue of its excellent thermal property and chemical stability shows very strong resistance to high temperature and corrosive environment. Present paper presents extensive experimental and simulation work for optimised process parameters of yttria coating in Ar-N{sub 2} plasma. Simulation studies on temperature field, velocity field and species transport between Ar-N{sub 2} plasma and entrained air have been reported. Temperature and velocity profiles of yttria particle have been calculated assuming dilute loading condition. The velocity and temperature of yttria particles have been experimentally determined by using Spray watch imaging system. Calculated values of velocity and temperature of yttria particles are found to agree fairly well with the experimentally measured values. (author)