Why Do People Love HVOF Coatings?

Before we can explore the wonders of HVOF coatings, first things first… What’s HVOF? Those letters stand for High Velocity Oxygen Fuel. Semi-molten materials, or molten materials, are used on substrates and applied at high speeds in the thermal spray process. Across different industries, for a wide range of applications, unique coating properties can be provided by HVOF coatings. For the creation of coatings on numerous surfaces, the most widely used method of dense coating application, a.k.a. thermal spray, just can’t be beat.

The Benefits of HVOF

Basically speaking, particularly when compared to protection applied through other processes involving thermal spray coatings, those applied via HVOF are known for a quality that is undeniably enhanced. More specifically, here are a list of benefits:

Improved corrosion resistance – A superior level of corrosion protection is achieved because HVOF coatings are less porous.
Increased adhesive strength – A strong bond is achieved between the substrate and coating.
Coatings that are much thicker are achievable – Thicker coatings result because there is less residual stress with HVOF coatings.
Smoother and denser coatings – Because impact velocity is higher, smoother and denser coatings are achieved by this process.
Superior wear protection – Improved wear resistance is created because coatings are tougher.
Hard coatings – A higher hardness level is created due to less carbide phase degradation.

HVOF Materials

In the HVOF process, most commonly used are the following four materials:

Tungsten carbide nickel super alloy
Aluminum bronze
Tungsten carbide
Chromium carbide

Would Your Company Like to Save Money?

The answer to that question, more times than not, is a resounding yes. Companies can save money through the use of HVOF coatings. Here’s why.

It helps parts perform better and last longer – that saves money on part replacement and increases productivity.
The process itself is affordable, particularly compared to other processes.

So, decreasing costs and the increase of efficiency are two things that any company would be happy to report. Both help improve a company’s bottom line.

Combinations Are Also Possible

For numerous industries, in addition to HVOF on its own, an alternative solution for replacing chrome and other coatings is a combination of HVOF and HVAF (High Velocity Air Fuel). For the HVAF process, propane, high butane LPG, propylene, and natural gas are used to heat and accelerate the gases (just mentioned) and hot compressed air. This process is widely used throughout the aircraft industry and at military depots.

Before You Consider HVOF

As with anything else in this world, though many things are described as “one-size-fits-all”, few things actually are. The same can be said for these coatings. They are perfectly suitable for many applications. However, with various other coating methods on the market, depending the job at hand, there may be a method that is better suited for a particular instance (i.e., coating thickness, specific substrate, requirements/standards, etc.).

The technicians at A&A Coatings are experts on the subject of HVOF coatings and their use. We can help you decide whether these coatings, or some other type of protective covering, is most appropriate for your application/industry. Contact the professionals at A&A Coatings today to discover all the benefits achievable through current thermal spray processes.