Abstract:
Coatings containing at least 85 % by volume crystalline mullite with less than 15 % by volume of amorphous material and mullite dissociation phases are plasma sprayed onto the surface of a silicon based ceramic substrate by closely controlling the plasma spray parameters including the mullite feed stock and its particle size, the nozzle outlet stand-off distance, movement of the substrate past the plasma flow, back side heating of the substrate and the powder feed rate through the plasma spray gun.