Production of Metallurgical Structures by Rapid Solidification Plasma Deposition

Rapid solidification plasma deposition (RSPD) is a unique process for producing metallurgical structures. Homogeneous, nearly fully dense microstructures are achieved which have significantly improved mechanical behavior relative to the behavior of the same alloys in conventionally cast and heat-treated form, such as a 50% increase in tensile strength and a many-fold increase in thermal fatigue crack initiation resistance. Thin-walled structures can be produced in alloys which could not be cast or wrought to that size, while massive fine-grained structures can be produced in a fraction of the time of conventional processes.