Top Spray Coating Method to Extend Equipment Life
When it comes to preserving expensive equipment, you definitely want to go with high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray coating using tungsten carbide. Get the paint density you want and the paint chemical bond strength that you need.
Why Use Thermal Spray Coating?
Thermal spray coatings for your equipment decrease weather, wear, and tear, reduce chances of damage, and provide an extra layer of protection against heat. Not only is thermal spray coating a smart upgrade for shop machinery across the board, but it also saves money long-term and enhances the equipment’s performance, durability, and value.
Two major benefits draw professionals to choose thermal spray coating for their equipment:
- Decreased Machine Repair Costs: repairing a worn machine with thermal spray is cheaper than outright replacing the equipment itself.
- Increased Product Lifetime: thermal spray coating usually last much longer than the material’s original composition, extending the lifetime of the machinery itself.
Regarding concerns around the spray coating affecting the functionality of the equipment, but that’s not a problem. Because thermal sprays use a very low heat input, that increases their versatility, enabling them to be used on practically any metal, ceramic, or plastic component. The thickness of thermal sprays fluctuates, ranging from 0.005 to 0.1 inches thick.
Spray coating is also popular because of its convenience and expedience, as the application process ranges from 3 to 60 pounds per hour depending on spray type and material condition. For most materials, spray rates fall between half a pound to two pounds of material per square foot per one-hundredth of an inch thickness. The best method of spray coating is known as high-velocity oxygen fuel.
High-Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) Coating: The Details
High-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) is a method of spray coating that utilizes high-quality coatings of materials known as cermets, “a composite material composed of ceramic (cer) and metal (met) materials.” HVOF coating thickness is oftentimes measured between the 0.1 and 2mm range. This method of spray coating is generally known for having a high level of solidity and a low level of porosity, or level of empty space in a material. The bond between the material and the equipment is extremely strong, usually far surpassing 80 megapascals (MPa).
HVOF Metal Spray
- The HVOF coating process requires a high-velocity flame, which is the key to the properties of the coating it creates.
We are a full-service thermal spray shop located in Kennedale, Texas and have been serving the United States since 1983. Let our team be the ones to provide you with the quality thermal spray and machine shop service that you need to make the most of your machinery.
- These coats are dense, hard, and well-bonded.
- These thermal sprays do not require bond coats, and they can easily be applied on top of other thermal spray coats when necessary.
- This fast-growing application has become the replacement for chrome plating, as it produces improved wear resistance and thickness.
With robotic and mechanical controls taking the lead on this process, you can expect both increased efficiency and repeatability for future projects with machines protected by HVOF coating.
HVOF coatings are known for having a higher hardness and a higher density, making them nearly five times stronger than plasma spray coatings. This is the heavy-duty type of thermal spray coating that you want to choose when investing in the protection of your machinery.
HVOF coatings are most commonly used in settings where machinery and equipment will be exposed to high temperatures on a regular basis. Common applications for HVOF coating include: agricultural wear parts, hydraulic cylinders, pump augers, wear sleeves, impellers, compressor pistons, and hydraulic rams.
HVOF Tungsten Carbide Coating: The Best Material
The main reason tungsten carbide coating is considered the best HVOF material is that it showcases superior “low-temperature abrasive wear resistance” compared to all other HVOF coating. Due to the increased density and stronger bonding of HVOF tungsten carbide coatings, the limit of thickness for coating is higher.
HVOF tungsten carbide coating also demonstrates higher-rated wear resistance over other sprays, such as plasma-sprayed carbide-cobalt coatings. According to ThermalSpray.com, “This material is recommended for applications in which abrasive wear is the primary failure mechanism.” Materials used for HVOF coating include cermets, ceramics, metal alloys, pure metals, polymers, and composites.
Looking For a Dallas Machine Shop That Provides HVOF Tungsten Carbide Coating? Look no further.
Wear Master, Inc. is one of the nation’s most experienced thermal spray coating providers, having served businesses across the South and Southwestern United States from our Kennedale location since 1983.
Our patented X-Gun system allows us to apply our top-of-the-line thermal spray protection to your machinery more quickly and affordably than the competition, allowing you to get the most out of your machinery for less.
Contact us today to get long-term protection and durability for your company’s most valuable equipment.