A plasma torch includes a first element provided with a through opening for the exit of a plasma flow, and a hollow electrode which develops longitudinally along a main axis and can be positioned with respect to the first element in such a way as to define a striking area. The hollow electrode includes an inner cavity which extends at least partially along the main axis and a main conveyance way suited to convey a carrier gas. The torch includes a first divider suited to divide the main way into a first conveyance way suited to convey a portion of the carrier gas from the main way towards the striking area and into a second conveyance way suited to convey a portion of the carrier gas from the main way towards the inner cavity of the hollow electrode, the portion of carrier gas of the second way being suited to cool down the hollow electrode, and a second divider arranged downstream of the first divider, suited to divide the first way into a third conveyance way suited to convey a portion of the carrier gas from the first way towards the striking area and into a fourth conveyance way suited to convey a portion of the carrier gas from the first way towards the first element, the portion of carrier gas of the fourth way being suited to cool down the first element.

A plasma processing apparatus includes a cooling plate having a fixing surface to which an upper electrode is fixed, the cooling plate having, on the fixing surface, an electrostatic chuck configured to attract the upper electrode by an attraction force generated by an applied voltage; a power supply configured to apply the voltage to the electrostatic chuck; and a power supply controller configured to control the power supply such that an absolute value of the voltage applied to the electrostatic chuck is increased based on a degree of consumption of the upper electrode.

A plasma processing apparatus includes a cooling plate having a fixing surface to which an upper electrode is fixed, the cooling plate having, on the fixing surface, an electrostatic chuck configured to attract the upper electrode by an attraction force generated by an applied voltage; a power supply configured to apply the voltage to the electrostatic chuck; and a power supply controller configured to control the power supply such that an absolute value of the voltage applied to the electrostatic chuck is increased based on a degree of consumption of the upper electrode.

A liquid coolant tube for a plasma arc cutting torch including a hollow elongated inner body shaped to translate within a hollow elongated outer body. The hollow elongated outer body of the liquid coolant tube is shaped to fixedly connect to the plasma arc cutting torch and includes a set of electrode guides. An external surface of the hollow elongated outer body and the set of electrode guides partially define a set of coolant flow channels between the set of electrode guides. The set of electrode guides are shaped to facilitate alignment of an electrode within the plasma arc cutting torch.

A liquid coolant tube for a plasma arc cutting torch including a hollow elongated inner body shaped to translate within a hollow elongated outer body. The hollow elongated outer body of the liquid coolant tube is shaped to fixedly connect to the plasma arc cutting torch and includes a set of electrode guides. An external surface of the hollow elongated outer body and the set of electrode guides partially define a set of coolant flow channels between the set of electrode guides. The set of electrode guides are shaped to facilitate alignment of an electrode within the plasma arc cutting torch.

A thermo spray gun (10) includes at least one of; at least one removable nozzle tip (20) for spraying a coating material, at least one replaceable nozzle tip (20) for spraying a coating material, and at least one interchangeable nozzle tip (20) for spraying a coating material. A thermo spray gun system (1000) includes a thermal spray gun (10) and at least one mechanism (30/40) at least one of; storing at least one nozzle tip installable on the thermal spray gun and being structured and arranged to install at least one nozzle tip on the thermal spray gun. A method of coating a substrate (S) using a thermo spray gun (10) includes mounting at least one nozzle tip (20) on the thermo spray gun (10) and spraying a coating material with the at least one nozzle tip (20).

A thermo spray gun (10) includes at least one of; at least one removable nozzle tip (20) for spraying a coating material, at least one replaceable nozzle tip (20) for spraying a coating material, and at least one interchangeable nozzle tip (20) for spraying a coating material. A thermo spray gun system (1000) includes a thermal spray gun (10) and at least one mechanism (30/40) at least one of; storing at least one nozzle tip installable on the thermal spray gun and being structured and arranged to install at least one nozzle tip on the thermal spray gun. A method of coating a substrate (S) using a thermo spray gun (10) includes mounting at least one nozzle tip (20) on the thermo spray gun (10) and spraying a coating material with the at least one nozzle tip (20).

A process for the separation of .sup.99mTc from molybdenum targets is described. The method for separation of .sup.99mTc isotope from molybdenum targets includes: i) providing an initial multicomponent mixture of elements, the mixture containing .sup.99mTc; ii) dissolving the multicomponent mixture of elements with an oxidizing agent to oxidize the mixture of elements; iii) heating the mixture of elements at a temperature sufficiently high enough to sublimate a vaporized compound containing .sup.99mTc; iv) condensing the vaporized compound containing .sup.99mTc to form a reaction product; v) adding a base to the condensed reaction product to dissolve the .sup.99mTc containing reaction product to form sodium pertechnetate (Na.sup.99mTcO.sub.4); and vii) purifying the crude solution of sodium pertechnetate Na.sup.99mTcO.sub.4 using column chromatography to provide the .sup.99mTc isotope as a radiochemical compound.

Disclosed is a plasma torch with a structure capable of performing reversed polarity/straight polarity operation, wherein the plasma torch is coupled to a melter and melts a waste material such as radioactive waste or industrial waste by generating and sustaining a plasma arc between electrodes, the plasma torch including: a rear electrode provided inside a torch pipe and electrically connected to become one of an anode and a cathode; and a front electrode provided at a front end of the torch pipe at a position adjacent to a front end of the rear electrode and electrically connected to become a remaining one of the anode and the cathode, wherein electrical connections of the rear and front electrodes are switchable with each other so that the plasma torch operates as a reversed polarity plasma torch or a straight polarity plasma torch.

Disclosed is a plasma torch with a structure capable of performing reversed polarity/straight polarity operation, wherein the plasma torch is coupled to a melter and melts a waste material such as radioactive waste or industrial waste by generating and sustaining a plasma arc between electrodes, the plasma torch including: a rear electrode provided inside a torch pipe and electrically connected to become one of an anode and a cathode; and a front electrode provided at a front end of the torch pipe at a position adjacent to a front end of the rear electrode and electrically connected to become a remaining one of the anode and the cathode, wherein electrical connections of the rear and front electrodes are switchable with each other so that the plasma torch operates as a reversed polarity plasma torch or a straight polarity plasma torch.