Thermal spraying or Thermal Plasma Spray is a way in which a solid material can have a coating of one description or another added to its surface in an easy and time effective way.
The process is used to be able to apply a number of coatings to items of different materials and shapes to make them more durable and resistant to issues such as corrosion, erosion, wear and tear, abrasion and the effects of extreme temperatures or temperature fluctuations. By coating the surface of the item it is also possible to change its outer property to allow for high or low friction, insulation, electrical conductivity and resistance to particular chemicals.
Thermal spraying allows for ultra fine particles to be directed at the surface of the item that has been prepared to enable these particles to adhere to it. The particles instantly flatten as they touch the surface and a number of different layers can be created by repeatedly spraying the surface with the particles, thus building up the outer surface to the desired levels. ALmost any surface can be sprayed to give it an outer skin that will perform under the pressures needed. As already mentioned this could be to withstand high temperatures, extreme fluctuations in temperature as well as to provide resistance to a number of different chemicals.