Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Following a successful project during which AFT and CMQ has worked together, AFT has decided to pursue the project with CMQ. During the previous project, AFT had mandated the CMQ, among other tasks, to evaluate the quality of coating applied by the means of HVOF instead of paste, onto blade used in wood pulp refiners. The coating is applied to enhance the lifetime of the blade, and consequently the disc onto which they are brazed and welded. The outcome of the previous project was the production of two full sets of blades, one set being attached to two mating discs. The discs were placed at a collaborator facility to perform in-site testing. The wear resistance was comparable to the one on the disc produced by application of paste. It was observed that the end of the life of the disc exhibited a faster wearing of the blades. This can be explained by the thinner layer of coating at the base of the blades. Even though the test-discs did not last as long as the conventionally produced, the cost and time of production might be significantly reduced compared to the use of paste. To obtain a better coating quality and a better process, AFT desires to pursue on the development of blades sprayed by the means of HVOF. The goal of the project is to be able to implement thermal spray coating at its full potential at AFT facility to produce reliable product efficiently, reducing the hard labor for workers, and reduce loss in terms of material.