Cold spray, also called supersonic particle deposition, is a solid-state coating and repair process that uses a heated, high-pressure gas (nitrogen, helium, or air) to accelerate metal powders through a supersonic nozzle. These particles impact a surface at supersonic speed, forming strong mechanical and metallurgical bonds without melting the material.
Unlike traditional welding or thermal spray, cold spray operates below melting temperatures—preserving material properties, avoiding distortion, and enabling structural-strength repairs that can match or exceed wrought properties.
Cold spray technology offers unique advantages for manufacturing and repair across aerospace, defense, energy, maritime, automotive, and heavy equipment industries:
Prevents warping, oxidation, and thermal damage.
Enables restoration of high-value components with bond strengths >10 ksi and coating strengths >40 ksi.
Extends mission critical component lifespan.
Achieves deposition efficiencies over 80%, reducing waste.
Produces no toxic fumes and minimal overspray, making it cleaner than welding or thermal spray.
Works with aluminum, copper, titanium, Inconel, and more.
Reduces downtime for critical aerospace, military, and industrial assets.
Build up worn or damaged surfaces to original dimensions without the typical limits of thermal spray.
A high-pressure gas (e.g., nitrogen or helium) is electrically heated and expands through a de Laval nozzle to drive metal powder particles to supersonic speeds.
The gas and particles accelerate through a nozzle to supersonic speeds, and Particles plastically deform on impact, creating a combination of mechanical interlocking and metallurgical bonding from localized dynamic recrystallization.
Layer-by-layer deposition forms dense coatings or dimensional restorations with precise temperature control and minimal masking.
Unlike thermal spray, cold spray avoids any phase change, preserving the powder’s properties and minimizing substrate heat distortion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cold Spray Technology
Cold spray, also called supersonic particle deposition, is a solid-state metal coating and repair process. Using a heated, high-pressure gas, fine metal powders are accelerated to supersonic speeds through a nozzle. When these particles impact a surface, they bond without melting, forming dense, high-strength coatings or restoring worn components to original dimensions.
Cold spray delivers performance and sustainability advantages over welding and thermal spray:
Unlike thermal spray, cold spray does not melt the powder. This eliminates oxidation, grain growth, and distortion of sensitive components. The result is metallurgical bonds that are 2–10× stronger than thermal spray coatings. For industries requiring structural repairs—not just cosmetic coatings—cold spray is the superior option.
Cold spray technology is widely used across industries that demand reliable, cost-effective repair and protection of high-value assets, including:
Yes. Cold spray is considered a green manufacturing process. It: