Research

Major research interests include arc technology, plasma heat transfer, plasma and arc spraying, and plasma processing of materials including up-to-date modeling of these processes. Plasmas generated by electric arcs or high-frequency discharges are studied in conjunction with material processing. Mixing of such plasmas with external flows is studied both experimentally and analytically. Understanding of heating, melting, and evaporation of materials injected into thermal plasmas is one of the major thrusts of the research. This work is directly linked to projects dealing with plasma spraying, wire arc spraying, and plasma synthesis of fine powders of refractory carbides, nitrides, borides, and oxides. Thermal Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (TPCVD), in particular of diamond films, is the most recent research activity. Diagnostic methods include LDA, laser scattering, computerized emission spectroscopy, probe techniques, SEM, TEM, X-ray diffraction, etc.

Publications

Laboratories

High Temperature and Plasma Laboratory