• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.116-124
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• 1997

A scope of this study is to establish the optimum plasma spray conditions for fine ($5\mu\textrm{m}$) $Al_2O_3$ powder. However, the flowability of the $Al_2O_3$ powder is not so good because of irregular particle shape and fine particle size. Therefore, powder feeding system was modified by 1) change of powder feeding line material from polymer to copper 2) shorten the powder feeding tube length 3) heating the powder feeding system to $80^{\circ}C$4) vibrating the powder feeding line continuously, in order to feed the fine powder homogeneously. The homogeneous powder feeding conditions were obtained with the modified powder feeding system by controlling the powder carrier gas flow and the powder flow rate indicator. The best plasma spraying conditions for the fine $Al_2O_3$ powder were found out as 40kw gun power, 80 g/min. powder feed rate and 50 mm working distance after characterizing the microstructure, hardness and wear loss of the $Al_2O_3$ coating layer.