Metal Spray Industry Articles
In the agricultural industry, there’s a necessity for cutting, slashing and ploughing, which means equipment and components are subject to abrasive and corrosive conditions. Maintenance is essential, and sadly, the costs can add up.
Metal and thermal spray coatings, along with hard-facing, can provide an economical solution for the wear and corrosion of agricultural machinery and components. Metal spraying provides increased resistance to corrosion and wear, resulting in extended life and increased performance.
It can also help to ensure crop irrigation pumps can withstand the hardness and ph values of water and fertilisers by applying ceramics to pump seal areas. This repairs and protects OEM components.
You’ve heard of the world famous Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, right? It’s one of the tallest buildings in the world. What you might not know is that metal spraying played a critical part in its construction.
The hotel is situated on an artificial island approx. 300m off Jumeirah Beach, which is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. Its design was based upon a dhow, an Arabian boat with a triangular sail or sails.
You might not realise this, but metal spraying/thermal spraying is a process that affects our everyday living beyond all recognition.
The process is used to change the surface properties of a part by adding a layer or layers of material to increase factors such as durability, hardness, wear resistance. In addition, the process can work to change electrical properties, increase corrosion protection, replace worn or damaged material, and increase or decrease friction.
The metal/thermal spray process is a coating process used to change the surface properties of a part by adding a layer or layers of material to increase durability, hardness, increase or reduce friction, increase corrosion protection, change electrical properties or even to replace worn or damaged material.
Coating materials can be metallic, ceramic or plastic and substrate materials include metals, glass, plastics, plaster, polystyrene, ceramics and even wood.
The applications of metal spraying are wide and varied, and there many applications that might surprise some people.
The Metallisation thermal spray process, usually linked with industrial and engineering projects, has enjoyed some unusual success at this year’s RHS Show at Tatton Park. Mike Russell’s ‘Star Gazer’s Retreat’ garden project was awarded the Gold Medal at the show. Mike provides sustainable, bespoke garden and landscape design and build services using recycled and local products on all of his projects.
Mike’s RHS ‘Star Gazer’s Retreat’ design included a stargate, which formed the entrance to the retreat and it was this element that was given the Metallisation treatment. The circular gate was constructed from a steel frame, which was clad using recycled plastic eco-board and then coated with an alloy of zinc and aluminium bronze. The aim was to create a futuristic metallised finish to complement the star gazing theme.
Metallisation Ltd has been providing thermal spray solutions around the globe for over 90 years and completed its latest turnkey project with B&B Coatings in Huddersfield.
B&B Coatings is a specialist in the application of thermal spray coatings. The company has extensive in-house manufacturing, analysis and test facilities, backed by an on-site Metallurgical Laboratory. B&B Coatings offers engineered coating solutions for a wide range of industrial applications and has extensive experience in thermal spray solutions.
