Analysis of water jet cutting of metal-ceramic elements made through atmospheric plasma spraying technique

Abstract

Ceramic layers like alumina or zirconia present many industrial applications in many different domains. Ceramic thin layers were obtained through atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) using a robotized arm. Combinations of 25-–75, 50–50 and 75–25 % between Al2O3 and ZrO2 ceramic powders were made in order to obtain the ceramic layers. Structural (optical - OM, scanning electron – SEM and atomic force microscopy - AFM) characterizations of the thin ceramic layers were made before and after the operation of water jet cutting (Waterjet Cutting Machine (TK-TRUMP50-G3020)). By water jet cutting we follow to determine the behavior of the ceramic layer – metallic substrate system at these materials under pressure and water. The process was performed with a high cutting speed and a clean cut however taking in the account the porous nature of the ceramic layers made through APS the water jet and water bed affect the substrate and corrosion occur on the experimental samples.