Deposition of Silicon Carbide and Nitride-Based Coatings by Atmospheric Plasma Spraying

In this work atmospheric plasma spraying of SiC and Si3N4 was investigated. Plasma spraying of these ceramics raises several problems since they would tend to decompose instead of melting at elevated temperatures during the process. To circumvent this problem the nonoxide ceramics were deposited as a composite powder mixed with nonoxide ceramic particles resulting in a ceramic/ceramic composite structure. Our findings were that using such a composite feedstock powder both oxidation and decomposition of the nonoxide particles could be avoided. A vitrified phase was also developed in the coating.