CSIRO’s innovative Cold Spray technology is currently being used by the Kirk Group to replace electroplating processes used to prepare rollers in the printing industry.
The technology, developed by Cold Spray and Tooling team leader Dr Mahnaz Jahedi, allows metallic and non-metallic powders to be sprayed on to surfaces at supersonic speed.
Coatings are produced at a gas-jet temperature that is lower than thermal spray processes such as powder flame, wire arc, plasma arc and high-velocity oxygen fuel spraying. The process avoids high-temperature side effects, making it more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
The Kirk Group, an engineering company specialising in printing systems, plan to use cold spray technology to produce printing cylinders. The company has invested more than $1m in opening a new plant in Melbourne’s southeast. It is believed the technology could halve electroplating costs.
Other possible applications include biomedical and aerospace industries, plus chemical and mineral processing. For more information, contact CSIRO on 1300 363 400.