To communicate the benefits of thermal spray and surface engineering technology to a new audience of potential users -- including mechanical, chemical and electrical engineers and designers -- a special interactive session will be held as a part of the International Thermal Spray Conference & Exposition (ITSC 2009) in Las Vegas.
Dr. Robert C Tucker, Jr. will serve as session chair for "Surface Engineering Technologies in Perspective - Thermal Spray, CVD, PVD and Electroplating Overviews." The session ill be held during the ITSC technical sessions, May 4-7, at the Flamingo Hotel.
“Many engineers and designers have only a limited knowledge of the breadth of surface technologies available to provide enhanced surface mechanical, chemical, optical, thermal, electrical, aesthetic, and other properties,” Dr. Tucker said. “Thermal spray is one of the most versatile of the surface engineering technologies, but needs to be considered in light of the others that are available when addressing a specific design or problem situation.”
Presentations by invited speakers include:
- “Chemical Vapor Deposition of Coatings for Mechanical Applications,” by Gary Doll, Ph.D., Timken Technology Center
- “About Advanced PVD Coating Solutions and the Related Innovative PVD Process Technology,” by Georg Erkens, Ph.D., Sulzer Metaplas GmbH
- “Advanced ElectroDeposit-Type Coatings: Design & Performance,” by Frederick Schmidt Ph.D., P.E., Engineering Systems Inc.
- “PVD and Thermal Spray Approaches to Thermal Barrier Coatings,” by Neil Hitchman, Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc.
- “Thermal Spray Coatings: Practical Solutions to Surface Engineering Problems,” by Robert C. Tucker, Jr., Ph.D., The Tucker Group, LLC
Following their presentations, the speakers will participate in a panel discussion on the applications of surface engineering technologies. Other invited panelists representing leading providers of services, equipment and consumables will also participate. “Specific questions from the audience about actual production problems are encouraged,” Dr. Tucker said. “These may be submitted in advance via email to [email protected], and during the session our panelists will consider as many of these challenges as possible.”
ITSC is the world’s foremost international conference and exposition for thermal spray technologists, researchers, manufacturers and suppliers. Sponsoring organizations are ASM Thermal Spray Society (TSS), the German Welding Society (DVS) and the International Institute for Welding (IIW). For more information about ITSC 2009 visit the ASM International site and follow the links.