Claims
- 1. A method of thermally spraying a metal matrix coating containing solid lubricant particles, comprising:
- (a) creating a flame or electrical arc into which a consummable strand is fed to produce a melt, the strand being constituted as a hollow sheath of metal meltable by said flame or arc and in which is disposed a core containing solid lubricant melt-resistant particles; and
- (b) applying a propellant gas to said melt and particles to project a spray thereof while protecting said particles against ablation during transfer of said spray to a target to deposit a coating thereon.
- 2. A method of making a lightweight engine block for an internal combustion engine having at least one chamber for containing movement of a thrust element, comprising:
- (a) forming a lightweight metal engine block for containing movement of a thrust element;
- (b) positioning a thermal spray device adjacent the interior of said chamber as a target, said device having at least one consummable electrode to establish an arc therewith, said consumable electrode being comprised of a hollow sheath of metal with a core of melt-resistant solid lubricant particles;
- (c) striking said arc and applying a pressurized jet of atomizing gas immediately behind said arc to project molten droplets of metal as a spray and containing homogeneously distributed graphite particles therein; and
- (d) manipulating said device to cause said spray to traverse longitudinally and radially across a predetermined extent of said chamber interior to deposit a coating thereon.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/909,832, filed Jul. 7, 1992, U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,304.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5194304 |
McCune et al. |
Mar 1993 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
909832 |
Jul 1992 |
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