Plasma processing and deposition of powdered metal oxides consisting of hollow spherical particles

Features of the plasma processing of agglomerated metal oxide powders and the deposition of coatings of these powders, which consist of hollow spherical particles are considered in a particular case of powdered zirconium dioxide. It is shown that the formation of zirconia splats (melt drops spread over and solidified on a substrate surface) during the collision of hollow drops with the substrate has a more stable character as compared to the case of continuous (dense) particles of the same mass. Advantages of using hollow powders in the thermal spraying of coatings are discussed.