| Thermal spray technology was introduced into China in 50s, twenty
century. It has been popularized with powerful strength since the
establishment of Chinese thermal spraying association (CTSA)
proposed by State Economy Development Committee at the conference
of First China National Thermal Spray Technical Conference. Now, it
takes more and more important role in China economy society. It
also has acquired prominent results and grand benefits. At present,
no matter thermal spray technology including equipment, raw
materials, process and research or engineering and organization has
been improved greatly compared with theirs twenty years ago. They
are summarized as below: 1. Thermal spray technologies and their applications.
1.1 Equipment
Completed research and manufacture system has formed with China
industries development. There are nearly 50 research and
manufacture units in China. The representatives are the academy of
armored forces engineering college, Aerospace Research Institute of
Material & Processing Technology, Beijing Aeronautical
Manufacturing Technology Research Institute, Guangzhou Research
Institute of Nonferrous Metals, No.2 Artillery Engineering Academy
Shanghai Ruifa Thermal Spray Machinery Co., Ltd., Xi an Jiaotong
University, Surface Treatment Research Institute under Chinese
Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences Dalian Maritime
University, Si Chuan Changcheng Thermal Spray Technology Co.
Tieling Yongxing Petroleum Machinery Factory, etc. They can provide
almost all kinds of thermal spray equipment existing in the world.
Nearly 100 sets of equipment made by these companies have been sold
to domestic users every year. However, there are some differences
between the equipment developed and manufactured by Chinese
manufacturers and the advanced equipment provided by abroad
suppliers no matter on the properties or on operation settings.
Recent years, more and more Chinese users have the abilities to
invest on their equipment. More than 10 sets of large-scale thermal
spray equipments are imported every year. There is a truth that in
China you can find any new launched equipment made by a global
famous company. Self-research and importing bring the possession
and use of thermal spray equipment to a new stage.
1.2 Raw materials
Raw materials are the foods for thermal spray industry. The
production of raw materials has been paid attentions. Up till now,
there are more than 60 manufacturers involved in this field. The
representatives are: Beijing General Research Institute of Mining
& Metallurgy; Institute of Metal Research under Chinese Academy
of Sciences, General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals,
Central Iron & Steel Institute, Beijing University of
Technology, Hunan Bestful Materials Co., Ltd., etc. and a few joint
ventures. These manufacturers can supply more than 100 kinds of raw
materials including powders, wires and rods. The annual output can
reach to 1000 MT. These almost can meet the domestic market
requirements. But some special materials still need to be imported
at a certain amount for the applications in aerospace, aviation and
high temperature metallurgy, etc. Based on the continuous
improvements on commercial products, some new materials such as
nano grade and liquid thermal spray material have been developed
and industrialized recently with the development of thermal spray
technology applications.
1.3 Processes and applications
Now China thermal spray process has been transformed to high energy
and high speed advanced equipment from oxyacetylene flame spray
with metal powders. Their applications have been widened from used
product repair and mending to new product protection and
strengthening. Meanwhile, a few kinds of composited process
applications emerged. Such as brush plating composited with thermal
spraying, electric spark composited with thermal spraying, etc.
Annual production value of thermal spray industry can reach to more
than 1,000,000,000 RMB yuan in China. The integrated benefits can
be ten billions RMB yuan. The main applications include spray the
rollers of continuous cast equipment and the rollers at the bottom
of furnaces by explosive spray, HVOF and HVAF.
2. Industrial organizations
The establishments of China thermal spray organizations have their
own backgrounds and experiences. At the beginning of 80 s, twenty
century, Chinese Thermal Spray ing Association (CTSA) was set up by
China State Economy Development Committee, who was responsible for
National process and science development at that time, and China
State Science & Technology Development Committee. The aim is to
popularize and develop thermal spray technology. CTSA is the first
organization in thermal spray industry. After twenty years, CTSA
has owned more than 400 registered members. Now CTSA still keeps
close contacts with China State Development & Reform Committee
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