Plasma Transfer Arc (PTA) hardfacing has been in practice since the 60’s. It is a versatile method of depositing high-quality metallurgically fused deposits on low cost surfaces.
Soft alloys, medium and high hardness materials, and carbide composites can be deposited on a variety of substrates to achieve diverse properties such as mechanical strength, wear and corrosion resistance, and creep.
PTA hardfacing has significant advantages over traditional welding processes such as oxyfuel (OFW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).
Benefits of PTA:
- Easily automated, providing a high degree of reproducibility.
- Allows precise metering of metallic powder feedstocks, resulting in lesser material quantity used.
- Precise control of weld parameters (i.e. powder feed rates, gas flow rates, amperage, voltage, and heat input), ensuring consistency.
- Produces alloy deposits that are tougher and more corrosion resistant than counterparts laid down by GTAW or OFW processes.
- Produces smooth deposits that significantly reduce required post weld machining.
- Variety of deposits in thicknesses from 1.2 – 2.5 mm (0.05 – 0.10 in.) or higher. Can be deposited by a single pass at a rate of 1 kg/h up to 13 kg/h depending upon torch, powder and application.