Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies (CACT)

ments, research staff members and graduate students. CACT works closely with industries, other universities and research institutions such as GE Global Research (Niskayuna, NY, USA), BMW USA, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Sulzer Metco, VacAero International, GE R&D, Inco, TeckCominco, Hydro Quebec, NRC-Industrial Materials Institute, and the University of Tokyo. CACT receives funding from government funding agencies such as Ontario Centre of Excellence, Materials and Manufacturing Ontario, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, The Canada Foundation for Innovation, Ontario Innovation Trust, Auto21 and several Canadian and international companies such. Over the last few years CACT has completed its move into new, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities in the Bahen Centre. It now possesses most standard thermal spray application systems such atmospheric plasma spray (APS), high velocity oxy-fuel spray (HVOF), wire-arc spray, and radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma (RF-ICP). In 2004 a unique new Vacuum Plasma Spray Forming (VPSF) system has been installed, which allows the temperature of the part being sprayed to be controlled accurately, so as to minimize thermal stresses. CACT has an extensive range of process diagnostic and coating characterization equipment. CACT trains graduate students who are in demand in both academia and industry.