Thermal Spray Coatings: 

Maximize Wear Properties of Metallurgically Bonded Coatings Using Optimized Heat Treatments

Presented by:

William J. Lenling, ASM, TSS HoF

Senior Distinguished Engineer

TST Engineered Coating Solutions

Thermal spray coatings have become critical technology to improve the performance of components used in the Oil & Gas Industry. The coatings are engineered to provide significantly increased wear resistance and, in many cases, also corrosion protection. Components used in valves, well stimulation pumps, and drilling components, all are dependent on thermal spray coatings to elevate their performance. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the technologies of thermal spray and show examples of where thermal spray coatings are used on some oil and gas components. Examples of both as-sprayed coatings and coatings that are metallurgically bonded by post coating heat treatments will be discussed. The effects of different post costing heat treatments will also be compared to show how metallurgically bonded coating properties can be greatly affected by the heat treat method.

Bill's Bio: 

Bill is a Senior Distinguished Engineer and co-founder of TST Engineered Coatings, a Fisher Barton Company, headquartered in Watertown, WI. Bill received his BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1986, and MS in 1987 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. TST engineers and manufacturers thermal spray coating solutions for a variety industrial markets and applications. Bill’s work at TST has resulted in many unique and critical uses of materials for coatings for electro-surgical devices, wear resistant coatings for agricultural and construction components, and wear and corrosion resistant coatings for food and pharmaceutical processing equipment. Bill has also worked to develop coatings that provide wear and corrosion protection for several components in the oil & gas industry. Much of this work in the oil & gas industry included combining thermal spray coatings with post coating heat treatments. How the heat treatment is performed can have a large effect in the resulting coating properties, the heat treatments and the coating properties will be described.

Bill is the current past President of the ASM Thermal Spray Society, TSS, he is a fellow of ASM, and was inducted into the TSS Hall of Fame in 2018.