Introduction to AcuKote HVAF

AcuKote High-Velocity Air-Fuel Spraying (AcuKote HVAF) is a process for deposition of high-quality coatings of metals, alloys, cemented carbides, and borides onto metallic surfaces.

Coating material in a form of pre-alloyed or composite powder is fed into a spray gun. The gun combusts compressed air and fuel gas (propane, propylene, natural gas, etc.) generating high-velocity jet of combustion products. In the jet, the spray powder is heated and accelerated and, when impacting a work piece (substrate), forms a coating.

Since the combustion temperature of air-fuel mixtures is relatively low, it is possible to gradually and precisely heat the spray powder to the desired temperature, preferably a few degrees below the material's melting point, performing deposition of coatings in a "solid particle" spray mode.

The AcuKote HVAF gun accelerates the powder to a very high velocity, in the range of 4,000 feet/sec., even for such heavy particles as tungsten carbide. This is essential for producing dense and well-bonded coatings.

Precise temperature control of the spray material near the melting point and high impact velocities are the distinguished characteristics of the AcuKote HVAF coating deposition process.