Plasma spray grade strontium zirconate powder supplied by
Cerac Incorporated, Wisconsin was sieved and collected in
a narrow size range of 63
–
75
m
m that was used as feedstock
powder for all the experiments. Plasma spray deposition of
SrZrO
3
was carried out on sand blasted stainless steel (SS)
coupons (30
25
2 mm). Plasma deposition was carried out
using a 40-kW atmospheric plasma spray system developed at
the Laser & Plasma Technology Division, BARC. The powder
was stored in a powder feeder and injected into the plasma jet
through a side port located 3 mm inside the plasma torch
nozzle exit. A mixture of argon and nitrogen was used as the
plasma gas. The coatings on coupons were carried out at 16,
20, 22 and 24 kW plasma power. Spray deposition was carried
out at 60 mm, 80 mm and 100 mm at each power level. The
experimental parameters are given in
Table 1