Numerical Calculation of the Arc-Sprayed Particles’ Temperature in Transient Thermal Field

Abstract

The physical and mechanical properties of the coatings produced by electric arc thermal spraying are closely related to the velocity and temperature of the particles that interact with the substrate surface. Knowing the temperature variation of the sprayed particles allows establishing their aggregation state, respectively determining the spraying distance, so that the state of aggregation of the particles at the impact moment is predominantly liquid. Obviously, when the sprayed particle passes through the spray cone, it cools continuously due to the low and variable temperature of the entrainment gas. This paper aims to determine analytically the thermal behavior of the particles entrained by the gas jet formed at the thermal spraying in an electric arc, depending on the variable temperature, existing along the spraying cone. In this sense, by modeling with finite elements, using the ANSYS program, the temperature inside the spray jet was determined, and by a mathematical model carried out based on the thermal balance equations, the thermal profile of the sprayed particles was determined. The thermal profile demonstrates that their temperature suddenly increases to the solidification temperature, then increases to the melting temperature—due to the latent heat of solidification, after which it decreases to 300 K.