Process for applying coatings

To apply coatings with the use of explosion energy, preferably by means of a detonation gun, an explosive mixture of a flammable and an oxidising gas and of a neutral gas or without neutral gas is prepared steadily and continuously during the application. The feeding of the explosive mixture, in portions and synchronised with the work progress, into a combustion chamber, preferably the detonation gun, is effected by adding the neutral gas just before the ignition of the explosive mixture in the combustion chamber, with the consequence that the flow of the explosive mixture is stopped and the flame is not distributed in the direction towards the source of the explosive mixture. The process can be used for protecting various products from corrosion and erosion at high temperatures in diverse sectors of industry.