Ceramic Thermal Spray Powders for Industrial Applications

Ceramic powders, such as chrome oxide, are used to create extremely hard, wear-resistant coatings on components exposed to abrasion, friction, or corrosive environments. Applications include wire drawing blocks, rollers, and guides where ceramic coatings outperform metallic alternatives in resisting surface wear while maintaining a smooth finish.

Ceramic thermal spray coatings like chrome oxide can typically withstand continuous operating temperatures well above 1,000°F (538°C), far exceeding standard organic powder coatings. This makes them suitable for high-friction, high-heat industrial environments such as wire drawing and fracking equipment where conventional coatings would degrade.

Plasma spray is the primary process used to apply ceramic coatings, as it generates the extreme heat needed to fully melt ceramic powders like chrome oxide before depositing them onto a substrate. This produces dense, highly wear-resistant coatings ideal for components subject to constant friction and abrasion.

Parkway-Kew offers PK-1500 Chrome Oxide, a plasma-sprayed ceramic coating recognized as one of the most wear-resistant options for wire drawing blocks. It provides a cost-effective alternative to solid ceramics, eliminating common breakage and slippage issues while delivering the highest quality surface finish for wire being drawn.

The Restore & Grind process fills and blends only the worn drawline area of a wire drawing block instead of requiring a full recoat. This allows 5-7 lower-cost repairs before a complete recoating is needed, significantly reducing both material costs and equipment downtime for wire mills.

Industries including oil and gas, wire manufacturing, shipping and port operations, and heavy equipment manufacturing all benefit from ceramic thermal spray coatings. These coatings extend component life on fracking plungers, wire drawing blocks, festoon wheels, and rope pulleys operating under constant friction, load, or corrosive conditions.