Cold Gas Dynamic Spray – Characterization of Polymeric Deposition

• Main Author: Bush, Trenton
• Format: Others
• Published: ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst 2016
• Subjects: polymer; deposition; fluid dynamics; supersonic; cfd; nozzle; Applied Mechanics; Dynamics and Dynamical Systems; Manufacturing; Mechanical Engineering; Polymer and Organic Materials
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2/413; https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1454&context=masters_theses_2

When a solid, ductile particle impacts a substrate at sufficient velocity, the resulting heat, pressure, and plastic deformation can produce bonding at the interface. The use of a supersonic gas flow to accelerate such particles is known as Cold Spray deposition. The Cold Spray process has been commercialized for some metallic materials, but further research is required to unlock the exciting material properties possible with polymeric compounds. In this work, a combined computational and experimental study a) simulated and optimized the nozzle flow conditions necessary to produce bonding in a polyethylene particle, b) developed and fabricated an experimental device, and c) explored temperature-pressure space across a range of substrate materials, resolving a material dependent ‘window of deposition’ where successful coatings form. Insights into bonding mechanisms are discussed, and paths forward proposed.