Cavitation wear occurs on surfaces exposed to fluids in which entrained bubbles collapse at or near the surface. The collapse releases a jet of fluid that impacts the surface causing a severe hammering effect.
Cavitation is best combated through component redesign that either stops bubble formation or inhibits bubble collapse near the affected surfaces. Coatings can provide temporary relief prior to the redesign or can be used in applications where redesign is not feasible.
Ship propellors and pump impellers can be subject to cavitation effects under specific operating conditions. Oerlikon Metco solutions combat intense cavitation through tough materials that strongly work-harden, such as cobalt-based alloys. These are applied using processes that lead to metallurgical bonding. For mild to weak cavitation, High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) coatings can be used to reduce wear.
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