University of Minnesota

Emil Pfender

William W Gerberich

John C Nelson

Chung-hsien Tsai

Joachim V Heberlein

Yuk-Chiu Lau

Stuart J Malmberg

Joachim V Herberlein

A method is provided for preparing a diamond coating on a substrate. The method includes a first step of applying a partial diamond coating having an effective amount of void area therein to the work surface of a substrate. In a follow-up step the void area in the partial coating is filled with binder, preferably metallic binder. In a later step, diamond projecting outwardly from the binder is further grown, to generate a covering portion or a head portion extending over, and in protective relationship with, the binder or binder material. According to the present invention preferred products are also provided.

Diamond coated products and method of preparation

Diamond coated products

A gas shrouded plasma torch utilizes a hot anode that has an inert gas passing around the periphery of the anode to provide an inert gas shroud for a plasma stream exiting from the anode. The gas shroud is heated as it passes around the exterior of the hot anode, and when it exits from the passageway and forms a shroud, it mixes with and shields the hot plasma. The arrangement gives the results of less turbulence of the plasma flow, while retaining a high temperature which aids in particle processing.

Plasma spray torch with hot anode and gas shroud

A method is provided to apply a coating of a superconducting ceramic oxide to a substrate comprising introducing an atomized aqueous solution comprising at least three metal salts into inductively coupled plasma so as to deposit a superconductive ceramic oxide on the substrate, or alternatively, to deposit a mixed metal oxide on the substrate, which is converted into a superconductive ceramic oxide by post-annealing.

Deposition of superconducting thick films by spray inductively coupled

A multiple cathode DC arc plasma generator arrangement is used in connection with a single anode for thermal arc plasma processing of materials. A nozzle is provided to introduce a gas in approximately the center of the multiple cathodes, towards the anode. The nozzle injects the gas into the center of the plasma column generated between the cathodes and anode to stabilize such arc and affect the self-induced electrode jets. This provides control of the heat transfer to the anode and permits feeding of particulate matter into the core of the plasma column to enhance inflight processing (melting and/or chemical reaction) of the matter. A set of gas nozzles positioned radially about the anode may be employed for feeding of particulate matter at the anode surface.

Growing community of inventors

West St. Paul, MN, United States of America

Emil Pfender