Thermal Spray and Multiphase Flow Laboratories
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering


 

Christian Moreau, PhD

Professor

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Concordia University

1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W, EV-12.187

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1M8

Tel: (514) 848 2424 ext. 7921

 
   
Educations

1985 : Ph.D. Applied Physics to metallurgy

1981 : Masters in Nuclear Physics

1978 : Bachelor Physics

   
Distinctions

2013: N. Sharifi, F. Ben Ettouil, M. Mousavi, M. Pugh, A. Dolatabadi, C. Moreau, Superhydrophobicity and Water Repelling Characteristics of Thermally Sprayed Coatings, Best Paper Award, Proc. Inter. Thermal Spray Conf., Busan, South Korea, 13-15 May 2013, pp. 131-136, on compact disk

2010: C. V. Cojocaru, Y. Wang, C. Moreau, R. S. Lima, J. Mesquita-Guimarães, E. Garcia, P. Miranzo and M. I. Osendi, “Mechanical Behaviour of Air-plasma Sprayed Functionally Graded YSZ-Mullite Environmental Barrier Coatings: A Study via Instrumented Indentation”, Certificat of Merit, Inter. Thermal Spray Conf. 2010, Singapore, 3-5 May 2010

2007: A. McDonald, Harold C. Simmons Award - Best Student Paper, Institute for Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems (ILASS) for paper “Impact of plasma-sprayed particles on textured silicon wafers”, by A. McDonald, L. Rosenzweig, S. Chandra, and C. Moreau, 2007  

2007: B. R. Marple, R. S. Lima, C. Moreau, S. E. Kruger, L. Xie and M. Dorfman, “Processing and Properties of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia TBCs Produced Using Nitrogen as Primary Plasma Gas”, Best Paper Award,  Inter. Thermal Spray Conf. 2007, Beijing, China

2006: Fellow ASM International, elected October 2006

2006: G. MacDonald Young Award, ASM Canada Council

2006: A. McDonald, S. Chandra and C. Moreau, “Impact of Partially Molten Plasma-Sprayed Zirconia Particles on Glass Surfaces”, Best Paper Award, Proceedings of International Thermal Spray Conference 2006, Seattle, Wa, 15-18 May 2006, ASM International.

2006: A. Nadeau, L. Pouliot, F. Nadeau, J. Blain, S. A. Berube, M. Lamontagne, C. Moreau, “A New Approach to Online Thickness Measurement of Thermal Spray Coatings”, Best Paper Award, Proceedings of International Thermal Spray Conference 2006, Seattle, Wa, 15-18 May 2006, ASM International.

2003: J. F. Bisson and C. Moreau, “Effect of plasma fluctuations on in-flight particle parameters: Part II”, Best Paper Award Vol 12, Journal of Thermal Spray Technology, 12 (2003) 258-264.

2003: J.F. Bisson, B. Gauthier and C. Moreau, “Effect of plasma fluctuations on in-flight particle parameters”, Best Paper Award Vol 12, Journal of Thermal spray technology, 12 (2003) 38-43.

2001: B. R. Marple, J. Voyer, J.-F. Bisson, and C. Moreau, “Processing and Characterization of Nanostructured Cermet Coatings”; Certificate of Merit Award, International Thermal Spray Conference, Singapore, May 2001.   pp. 343-52 in Thermal Spray 2001:  New Surfaces for a New Millenium, (Ed.)  C.C. Berndt, K.A. Khor, and E.F. Lugscheider.   ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2001.

2000: J.-G. Legoux, B. Arsenault, V. Bouyer, and L. Leblanc and C. Moreau “Evaluation of four high velocity thermal spray guns using WC-10Co-4Cr cermets”, “Best Paper Award”,  in Proc. International Thermal Spray Conference, C. C. Berndt (Ed), Montreal, Canada, 8-11 May 2000, p 479-486

2000: Prix Agora, Palais des Congrès de Montréal, 7 avril 1999, à titre d’ambassadeur de Montréal pour la venue de l’ International Thermal Spray Conference à Montréal du 8 au 11 mai 2000.

1998: J. Ilavsky, G.G. Long, A.J. Allen, L. Leblanc, M. Prystay and C.Moreau, “Anisotropic microstructure of plasma-sprayed deposits”, in Thermal Spray: Meeting the Challenges of the 21th Century, ed. C. Coddet, Best Paper Award Proceedings of 15th International Thermal Spray Conference, Nice,  France, 25-29 May 1998, ASM International, p. 1577-1582.

1997: P. Gougeon and C. Moreau, "Simultaneous Independent Measurement of Splat Diameter and Cooling Time during Impact on a Substrate of Plasma Sprayed Molybdenum Particles." In Thermal Spray: A United Forum for Scientific and Technological Advances, C.C. Berndt (ed.), Certificat of Merit, Proceedings of the 1st United Thermal Spray Conference, Indianapolis (USA), 15-18 Sept. 1997, ASM International, p. 619-626.

1996: M. Prystay, P. Gougeon and C. Moreau, “Correlation between Particle Temperature and Velocity and the Structure of Plasma Sprayed Zirconia Coatings”, in Thermal Spray: Practical Solutions for Engineering Problems, C.C. Berndt (Ed.), Best Paper Award Proc. National Thermal Spray Conference, 7-11 October 1996 , Cincinnati, Ohio, ASM International, p. 517-523

1996: C. Moreau, P. Gougeon et M. Lamontagne, Prix du CNRC pour Réalisation scientifique exceptionnelle reliée au diagnostic des particules en projection thermique, 1996.

1992: C. Moreau, P. Cielo and M. Lamontagne, "Flattening and Solidification of Thermally- Sprayed Particles", Certificate of Merit,  J. Thermal Spray Technol. 1992

1992: C. Moreau, P. Cielo and M. Lamontagne, "Flattening and Solidification of Thermally- Sprayed Particles",Best Paper Award International Thermal Spray Conference, Orlando, FA, June 1992

1991: C. Moreau, M. Lamontagne, P. Cielo, "Influence of the Coating Thickness on the Cooling Rates of Plasma-Sprayed Particles Impinging on a Substrate", Best Paper Award National Thermal Spray Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, May 4-10 1991.

1991: C. Moreau, S. Dallaire, F. Bordeaux, R. St-Jacques, "Thermal Shock Resistance of Plasma-Sprayed Ceramic Coatings on Microtextured Substrate Surface", Best Paper Award National Thermal Spray Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, May 4-10 1991

 

   
Realizations

Diagnostics of plasma sprayed particles upon impact on a substrate

We have developed the first optical setup for monitoring plasma-sprayed particles impacting on a substrate able to measure the temperature and velocity of in-flight particles as well as their cooling rates (> 107K/s) and flattening degree upon impact on a substrate [P. Gougeon and C. Moreau, 2001] and [C. Moreau, P. Gougeon, & M. Lamontagne, 1995]. We received four awards [C. Moreau, P. Cielo & M. Lamontagne] and [C. Moreau, P. Cielo & M. Lamontagne] (1992), and [C. Moreau, M. Lamontagne, P. Cielo, 1991] for the scientific merit and originality of these studies. We developed a new system adding the capability of taking ultra-rapid images of the impacting particles. This system permitted us to capture the first images showing the perforation and fragmentation of the liquid film during the spreading of the sprayed particles on cold substrates. This world “première” opened a new way to study these complex phenomena that are of high scientific and practical importance [N.Z. Mehdizadeh, M. Lamontagne, C. Moreau, S. Chandra, J. Mostaghimi, 2005], [A. McDonald, M. Lamontagne, C. Moreau, and S. Chandra, 2006] and Awards [A. McDonald, S. Chandra and C. Moreau, 2006] [A. McDonald, L. Rosenzweig, S. Chandra, and C. Moreau, 2007].

 

Development of an optical diagnosis system for monitoring particles in thermal spray processes: DPV-2000

I am the principal inventor of this patented technology that permits the measurement of the temperature, velocity and diameter of in-flight particles in thermal spray processes [C. Moreau, P. Gougeon, M. Lamontagne, V. Lacasse, G. Vaudreuil, P. Cielo, 1994] and US patents 5654797, 5180921]. The system, called DPV-2000, has been commercialized under license by Tecnar Automation Ltd (St-Bruno, Quebec, Canada) since 1995. This system revolutionized the way thermal spray research is carried out worldwide as it permits the researchers to measure directly the effect of spray parameters on in-flight particle characteristics and understand how these characteristics (temperature, velocity and diameter) determine the coating properties. Before the introduction of the DPV-2000, such measurements were possible only in a small number (around 5) of highly specialized laboratories. Today, more than 80 systems are in use in research labs. Over 660 papers/book chapters have been published in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings reporting results acquired with the DPV-2000.

 

Development of an industrial sensor for on-line monitoring sprayed particles: Accuraspray

We invented and developed this optical system designed for monitoring thermal spray particles in industrial production environments [J.F. Bisson, C. Moreau, L. Pouliot, J. Blain, F. Nadeau, 2001] and US patent 5986277]. The system provides the spray operator with a clear indication of the actual process state by measuring the mean velocity, temperature, orientation and intensity of the particle spray jet. The Accuraspray is used to improve coating consistency in production in aerospace and other demanding industrial applications. More than 220 systems with over 400 sensor heads have been sold to date by Tecnar Automation. Over 180 articles/book chapters report the use of this system for monitoring or controlling thermal spray processes.

 

Effect of plasma fluctuations on in-flight particle parameters

In a plasma spray torch, the length of the arc fluctuates at relatively high frequency (4-10 kHz). These fluctuations result from movement of the arc root along the anode surface. In articles [J.F. Bisson, B. Gauthier and C. Moreau] and [J. F. Bisson and C. Moreau] (2003), we were the first group in the world to report time-resolved temperature and velocity measurements on in-flight plasma spray particles and show that plasma fluctuations generate important particle temperature and velocity variations and have a direct influence on the coating microstructures. The results published in these papers stimulated the development and commercialization of new plasma torches operating with much smaller power fluctuations, in particular, the Sulzer-Metco Triplex Pro and Sinplex systems.

 

Contribution to materials science and technology

The work we have carried out aims at developing a better understanding of the relationships between the input spray parameters, in-flight particle condition, coating microstructure and coating performance. The originality of the work resides in the approach used for studying these relationships making extensive use of advanced diagnostics tools [M. Prystay, P. Gougeon and C. Moreau, 2001], [J25]. These studies do not only contribute to the basic science of thermal spray but also to the development of new applications and improvement of the quality and consistency of coatings sprayed every day in industry. We have demonstrated how the electrode wear in plasma spray processes induces drifts in spray particle conditions and how optical sensors can be used to detect such a drift and eventually correct it [L. Leblanc, C. Moreau, 2002]. Article [J18] is a good example of innovative use of suspension thermal spray to build metal-supported solid fuel cells.

 

   
Publications full list here

 

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