The high temperatures and high velocity present in High-Velocity Oxygen Fuel processes make safety paramount.
Thermach HVOF systems are the perfect mix of safety and performance. Easy-to-use controls, high-impact visual alarms, and a NEMA 12 enclosure provide accurate control over gauge and flow of ceramic and metallic coatings for the optimum corrosion resistance your customers expect.
HVOF, High-Velocity Oxygen Fuel, is a process that excels in producing very dense, low porosity, hard-wearing coatings. Unlike other thermal spray processes, where the coating material is melted and sprayed onto the substrate, the HVOF process plasticizes the coating particulate before it hits the substrate. The process works by mixing a fuel gas (commonly hydrogen, propane, or propylene) with oxygen in the torch’s combustion chamber. When the gas mixture is ignited, the combustion gases are accelerated through the nozzle at supersonic speeds, often producing shock diamonds in the exiting flame. The powder is then injected into the gas stream axially or radially, where it softens and gathers speed. Upon impact, the high kinetic energy of the particulate transforms into thermal energy, further aiding in the deformation and interlocking of the particulate with the surface profile. The results are coatings that exhibit density, hardness, and bond strengths that other methods of thermal spray cannot produce.
HV2000 Torch Nomenclature
HVOF coatings not only produce denser and harder coatings than other thermal spray processes, but they also produce coatings with lower residual stress. Due to lower particle temperatures, the particles spending less time within the heat source, and the peening effect of the high-velocity particles striking the substrate, there is less shrinkage, porosity, and oxidation. These unique properties make HVOF coatings superior at wear resistance and an excellent choice when spraying carbide and cermets.
Thermach thermal spray equipment is a smart, reliable choice for coatings, in the factory and in the field. Here are the applications where High-Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) Spray is typically used.