Thermal-spray processing of materials

The enhancement of engineering materials by surface modification has extended the operational envelope for many structures in terms of resistance to corrosion, wear, fatigue, and other forms of surface degradation. Surface engineering, using thermal-spray coatings, represents a pragmatic and highly cost-effective means of satisfying stringent design criteria, operating under extreme environments, and introducing a multiplicity of functions. Thermal-spray materials processing is an expanding technology, with future development requiring considerable basic and applied research to enhance reproducibility, reliability, and materials applicability of these processes.