JulyAugust_AMP

EDITORIAL

iTSSe

TSS

A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 5

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iTSSe

TSS

elcome to the summer edition of

iTSSe,

which focuses on automotive

and industrial applications for thermal

spray and surface engineering. For inter-

est’s sake, I have taken some liberties in

extending the automotive industry to in-

clude vehicles used in construction and

military operations.

Thermal spray is a mainstay in the

traditional automotive industry, provid-

ing coatings to combat wear on piston rings, shifter forks, syn-

chronizer rings, and more recently, integrally sprayed engine

block piston bores. In addition, the racing arena has used tita-

nium valves with plasma sprayed stems and HVOF-coated tips

for many years and ceramic-coated piston domes have been

used in both four and two-wheel racers as well as in speed

boat racing. In the aftermarket, thermal spray continues to

be used for repair of crankshafts and transmission parts. Mil-

itary depots also use thermal spray to restore components in

light armored vehicles, tanks, and Coast Guard vehicles as a

cost-effective and time-saving alternative to obtaining OEM

parts.

Agrowingoffshoot of traditional automotiveapplications

is chrome replacement in actuators and rams of earthmoving

vehicles. Here, HVOF tungsten carbide has been shown to out-

perform hard chrome by a factor of four without incurring an

environmental penalty as in chrome bath plating.

This issue features articles from Zircotec, a provider of

custom ceramic coatings for heat retention in motorsport and

other applications, and a summary of the International Ther-

mal Spray Conference and Exhibition, which took place in May

in Long Beach, Calif.

Don’t forget that the call for papers for ITSC 2016 is now

open until September 25. Submit your abstract soon to be

part of this outstanding thermal spray event taking place next

year in Shanghai. Visit

www.dvs-ev.de/itsc2016

for submission

details.

Rajan Bamola

iTSSe

co-editor

Surface Modification Systems Inc.

THERMAL SPRAY HOLDS POTENTIAL

FOR AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Bamola

Automated & Robotic Blasting Systems 800-228-7894 Toll-Free, U.S. & Canada E-mail: ampinfo@guyson.com guyson.com WHERE QUALITY COMES TO THE SURFACE 4 Surface prep for coatings 4 Metallurgical shot peening 4 Nondestructive blast cleaning

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