High Velocity Particle Consolidation Utilizing Liq

This Small Business Innovative Research Phase I project will develop an innovative High Velocity Particle Consolidation system using liquid particle acceleration mechanisms for Cold Spray applications. Conventional Cold Spray uses high pressure process gas to accelerate particles to a critical velocity, so that upon impact with a substrate, the particles plastically deform and create a coating. Abrasive Water Jet (AWJ) cutting uses high pressure water to accelerate abrasive particles to velocities in excess of 1000 m/s to remove material. Combining the advantages of conventional Cold Spray deposition with the more simplistic, yet effective AWJ cutting technology will result in a novel Liquid Cold Spray deposition method. Liquid Cold Spray will be able to obtain the critical velocity much more effectively by using a denser carrying fluid. The denser fluid will also allow powders to be supplied via Venturi Effect, eliminating the need for costly powder feeder arrangements used in traditional Cold Spray. Reaching the critical velocity more efficiently and simplifying system design will result in a more cost effective deposition system. By using a denser fluid accelerant, powders which lie outside of the conventional Cold Spray regime may be deposited, thereby producing a new class of materials and coatings.