Session *BB5.3

4:00 PM *BB5.3
COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF WATER STABILIZED PLASMA SPRAYING. K.R. Raab, Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL.

The economics of the high spray rate capability of the water stabilized plasma spray (WSP) technology makes this an attractive process for coating large components. Caterpillar has investigated the use of WSP technology with the support of the Advance Technology Program. Through this program, an advanced water stabilized plasma system, the WSP 500, has been built and installed at Caterpillar's partner, St. Louis Metallizing Company, St. Louis, MO. Caterpillar's experience in operating this equipment in an industrial shop as well as several application of the spray process will be reviewed.