Simulation of Motion, Heating, and Breakup of Molten Metal Droplets in the Plasma Jet at Plasma-Arc Spraying

The mathematical model for the process of plasma-arc wire spraying is proposed, which describes behavior of molten metal droplets in the plasma jet, allowing for the processes of their deformation and gas-dynamic breakup. Numerical analysis of the processes of motion, heating, and breakup of molten metal droplets, detached from the sprayed wire at plasma-arc spraying of coatings, was performed. It is shown that during molten droplets movement in the plasma jet their multiple breakup takes place, leading to formation of sprayed particles with dimensions much smaller than dimensions of initial droplets, detached from the sprayed wire tip.