Ceramic and metal coating powders

[JeanRellier]

Hi everyone !

I'm Lilian. I'm a final year student in a french business school.
I'm looking for some experts in thermal spraying/welding/coating powders for a project.
Thanks in advance if you take the time !

1. Are there any real substitutes/alternatives that could replace thermal spraying and welding in the years to come ? (is 3D printing a threat?)
2. If yes, would that be a threat for the powder market as well ?
3. I know some new powder suppliers are coming from Asia. Are they strong/competent enough to compete with suppliers such as HC Starck, Praxair or Oerlikon ?
4. There are a lot of prices for powders according to their composition. Yet, do you have some price ranges of the most commonly used ones ?

Thanks again. I hope I did not ask too many questions

[Vadim Verlotski]

Hi everyone !

I'm Lilian. I'm a final year student in a french business school.
I'm looking for some experts in thermal spraying/welding/coating powders for a project.
Thanks in advance if you take the time !

1. Are there any real substitutes/alternatives that could replace thermal spraying and welding in the years to come ? (is 3D printing a threat?)
2. If yes, would that be a threat for the powder market as well ?
3. I know some new powder suppliers are coming from Asia. Are they strong/competent enough to compete with suppliers such as HC Starck, Praxair or Oerlikon ?
4. There are a lot of prices for powders according to their composition. Yet, do you have some price ranges of the most commonly used ones ?

Thanks again. I hope I did not ask too many questions

Hi Lilian,

I can not speak for all, but I will express my opinion. Maybe you get completely different answers:

1. 3D printing is not an alternative to welding or thermal spraying. Laser welding is an alternative that is growing strongly today, but this process will not replace "normal" welding or thermal spraying.
3. I am convinced that powder from Asia will dominate the market in a short time. Oerlikon, H.C. Starck and Praxair have no chances in the long run.
4. Common prices for nickel-based metallic powders are 40-60 $/kg (MCrAlY: 70-150 $/kg), copper base alloys: 15-30 $/kg and iron base: 5-20 $/kg. Prices for Cr3C2-NiCr powders: 50-80 $/kg, for WC-Co and WC-Co-Cr powders: 70-90 $/kg. Ceramics can vary greatly in price: from < 10 $/kg (Al2O3) to > 100 $/kg (YSZ, Y2O3 and other).

Regards
Vadim