Deposition of metals on a base

Abstract

A process for forming metallic articles involves generating a stream of atomized molten metal particles, directing this stream of particles at a substrate to form a deposit of the metal thereon having a desired form, and simultaneously directing at the metal as it is deposited on the substrate, a stream of rounded particles so as to consolidate the deposited metal. Apparatus for forming metallic articles includes means for generating a stream of atomized molten metal particles and means for producing a stream of rounded particles both of said means being so arranged as to cause the streams to converge on an area, and means for maintaining a substrate arranged to coincide with the area and adapted to receive thereon a deposit of the metal. The substrate may be incorporated into the metallic article product e.g. when it is a worn or damaged component which is being repaired or when it is an object such as a turbine blade being coated, or the substrate may just be a carrier for a metallic article entirely formed of the sprayed metal. The simultaneous spraying and hot working produces articles with excellent mechanical and physical properties and by appropriate choice of conditions very good adherence to or ready releasability from the substance can be ensured, as desired.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.