For the company TMCOMAS, the Fampai project has consisted of the development, in collaboration with Eurecat, of advanced powder manufacturing routes using unconventional techniques. Once this powder was obtained, it was used in their laser cladding processes to obtain coatings with a homemade powder.
What has been TMCOMAS’ contribution to the project?
From TMCOMAS we have established the technical specifications of the powders to be developed to test them later in our usual processes. All this, always contributing our industrial approach and taking advantage of our expertise at the metallurgical level.
For you, what is the main advance of the project?
From my point of view, the main breakthrough that has been achieved thanks to the Fampai project has been the manufacture of spheroidal powders from technically complex materials, especially in the case of tungsten carbide.
And the main challenge, what has it been?
The main challenge has been to spheroidize tungsten carbide powder with the microwave plasma technique. On the other hand, so has the laser processing of babbitt material powders, as it requires a laser power control that is not obvious.
The project has focused on the shaping of parts by powder metallurgy and on the treatment and functionalization of surfaces by coatings deposited by projection and by laser cladding. What uses does this advanced process have?
As for laser cladding processing, its main use is to obtain special coatings on slender or thin-walled parts, in a fully automated and controlled way.
To which sectors and subsectors can it be applied?
Basically, to any sector that needs corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant surface coatings, or simply needs dimensional recovery on a critical piece. More specifically, from TMCOMAS we apply it in the Oil and Gas and energy generation sectors.
