Preparation of insulating refractory materials by plasma spray technology

The study covers results of production of high thermal resistant granules, fibres and ceramic coatings by plasma spray technology. Aluminium hydroxide, pure kaolin and their mixtures with 20, 50 and 80% quartz sand, yttria partially (10wt%) stabilized zirconia and titanium dioxide were injected into air plasma jet generated by DC linear plasma torch. Hard ceramic granules and fibres were produced in the plasmachemical reactor, which is directly connected with a plasma torch. The coatings were deposited on polished titanium alloy and stainless steel sheets. Determination of microstructure, elemental and phase composition of the resulting products was carried out using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively along with studies of mechanical properties of the material. As the data of this study show, the use of plasma spraying technology has significant consequence in the formation of high thermal resistant refractory products which represent a new approach in the domain of mineral fibre and granules preparation.