Prior to the coating process is abrasive blast cleaning using a special crushed steel grit to achieve a clean “white” metal condition and a (4-7 mil) anchor tooth profile, as shown in the figure below. Profiling the surface creates small finger-like projections in the base metal to which the molten particles can mechanically attach. So, in summary, once the surface has been properly prepared, the inconel alloy wire is then melted and arc sprayed against the substrate in this (3-5 mil) overlapping layers. Built-up in thin, multiple layers to the desired thickness which assures a coating with low internal stresses and a mechanical bond in excess of 5000 psi.
