Applying a pulsed plasma using a high current of the order of tens of kA is proposed for the plasma spraying of refractory materials. Numerical analysis was conducted of the short-time heating and acceleration of the particles. Based on this, experiments were performed using a specially developed plasma torch with a pulsed discharged current of 24 kA peak and a duration of 400 μs. Results showed the surface temperature of the alumina particles to reach values as high as 2700-3300 K, which was considerably higher than the melting point. Particle velocity was found to be about 200 m/s, which is comparable to that of dc plasma.