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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 | F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 8 4 2 iTSSe TSS iTSSe TSS THERMAL SPRAY TRENDS A strong global economy translates to plenty of activity to sup- port industrial growth. Aside from the more notable market drivers discussed previously, advancements in thermal spray processing are creating newmarkets that will drive growth. Cold spray, which has long been somewhat of a niche technology, is riding the additive manufacturing wave and finding new applications. Cold spray has traditionally been an attractive option in appli- cations that are extremely sensitive to high process tempera- tures. Examples include dimensional restoration of bearing surfaces of cast aluminum and cast iron for automotive, ma- rine, locomotive, and earthmoving equipment; manufacturing electrically conductive buses on the delicate surface of coated conductive glass for heated glass applications; deposition of pure aluminum inside semiconductor processing chambers to reduce contamination; repair of corroded surfaces in mag- nesium components for commercial and military aircraft; and restoration of corrosion damage in nuclear reactor vessels. Cold spray is now being used to create deposits that are oxide-free and fully dense withmechanical properties that ap- proach those of wrought materials. While it lacks the precision of modern 3D printers, cold spray processing is nonetheless an attractive alternative to processes that might otherwise re- quire significantmachining to achieve final dimensions. As this technology continues tomature, more andmorematerials are becoming candidates for this process, and associated applica- tions are therefore also increasing. LEARN MORE AT ITSC Interested in learning more about thermal spray appli- cations, developments, and the suppliers who help support this market? Be sure to attend the 2018 International Thermal Spray Conference and Exposition (ITSC 2018), to be held in Or- lando, Florida, from May 7-10. There you will find the world’s foremost international conference for thermal spray technolo- gists, researchers, manufacturers and suppliers. You will learn about the latest advancements in thermal spray technology, mingle with over 3000 attendees from around the world, and have access to exhibitors displaying the latest in equipment, supplies, and characterization tools. While ITSC draws experts from around the world, it is only held in North America once every three years. Don’t miss this opportunity to join us for what will certainly be an outstanding event. Formore informa- tion, see pages 31-32 in this issue for the ITSC show preview. ~iTSSe For more information: Doug Puerta is operations manager at PCC Structurals Inc. in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached at douglas.puerta@pccstructurals.com. Select Reference J. Villafuerte, Considering Cold Spray for Additive Manufactur- ing, Intl. Thermal Spray & Surface Eng., Vol 9 (2), p 6-8, 2014. 8