Plasma Transferred Arc (PTA) welding is a thermal process for applying wear and corrosion-resistant deposits on the surface of metallic materials. A high-energy concentrated plasma arc melts both the base metal surface and the powdered filler material to create a high-quality metallurgical bond.
PTA welding offers exceptional benefits, including very low dilution rates with the base metal, a narrow heat-affected zone (HAZ), high deposition efficiency, and precise control over deposit thickness. This makes it ideal for automated surfacing applications.
A wide variety of alloy powders can be deposited, including cobalt-based alloys (Stellite), nickel-based alloys, iron-based alloys, and complex tungsten carbide composites designed for severe abrasive wear.
Industries such as oil and gas, mining, steel production, power generation, valve manufacturing, and plastics processing rely heavily on PTA hardfacing to extend the lifespan of critical components subjected to extreme heat, wear, and corrosion.
While laser cladding provides lower heat input and minimal distortion, PTA welding is highly cost-effective, offers much higher deposition rates for thicker coatings, and provides excellent metallurgical bonding for heavy-duty industrial wear parts.