A method for plasma coating an object includes an object profile, having the steps of: a) manufacturing a replaceable shield comprising a jet inlet, a nozzle outlet and a sidewall extending from the jet inlet to the nozzle outlet, wherein the nozzle outlet includes an edge essentially congruent to at least part of the object profile; b) detachably attaching the replaceable shield to a jet outlet of a plasma jet generator, c) placing the object at the nozzle outlet such that the object profile fits closely to the nozzle outlet edge; d) plasma coating the object with a low-temperature, oxygen-free plasma at an operating pressure which is higher than the atmospheric pressure by providing a plasma jet in the shield via the plasma jet generator and injecting coating precursors in the plasma jet in the shield.

A method for plasma coating an object includes an object profile, having the steps of: a) manufacturing a replaceable shield comprising a jet inlet, a nozzle outlet and a sidewall extending from the jet inlet to the nozzle outlet, wherein the nozzle outlet includes an edge essentially congruent to at least part of the object profile; b) detachably attaching the replaceable shield to a jet outlet of a plasma jet generator, c) placing the object at the nozzle outlet such that the object profile fits closely to the nozzle outlet edge; d) plasma coating the object with a low-temperature, oxygen-free plasma at an operating pressure which is higher than the atmospheric pressure by providing a plasma jet in the shield via the plasma jet generator and injecting coating precursors in the plasma jet in the shield.

An apparatus for powder spheroidisation by microwave-induced plasma comprises a microwave generator (4), a microwave cavity (20), a waveguide (6) connecting the microwave generator to the microwave cavity, a plasma tube (3) partially located in the microwave cavity, a powder supply (2) connected to the plasma tube to feed a powder precursor flow thereinto, a gas supply (1) connected to the plasma tube to feed a process gas flow thereinto, in order to form a plasma torch in the plasma tube by coupling the process gas flow with the microwave radiation, and a compressed air supply (9). The microwave cavity comprises at least one opening (25) for the compressed air (91) so that the latter can cool the plasma tube from outside, and the gas supply is connected to the powder supply to let the process gas (11) carry the powder precursor (21) into the plasma tube, and so into the plasma torch in order to make spheroids (31) from the powder precursor by in-flight melting.

An apparatus for powder spheroidisation by microwave-induced plasma comprises a microwave generator (4), a microwave cavity (20), a waveguide (6) connecting the microwave generator to the microwave cavity, a plasma tube (3) partially located in the microwave cavity, a powder supply (2) connected to the plasma tube to feed a powder precursor flow thereinto, a gas supply (1) connected to the plasma tube to feed a process gas flow thereinto, in order to form a plasma torch in the plasma tube by coupling the process gas flow with the microwave radiation, and a compressed air supply (9). The microwave cavity comprises at least one opening (25) for the compressed air (91) so that the latter can cool the plasma tube from outside, and the gas supply is connected to the powder supply to let the process gas (11) carry the powder precursor (21) into the plasma tube, and so into the plasma torch in order to make spheroids (31) from the powder precursor by in-flight melting.

Vacuum plasma gun and method of controlling plasma arc in a vacuum plasma gun. Vacuum plasma gun includes a rear gun body section having an electrode, and a cascade section configured to connect to the rear gun body section. The cascade section includes a plurality of neutrodes arranged to form a neutrode stack. The method includes connecting a cascade neutrode stack to a rear body section of a vacuum plasma gun.

Vacuum plasma gun and method of controlling plasma arc in a vacuum plasma gun. Vacuum plasma gun includes a rear gun body section having an electrode, and a cascade section configured to connect to the rear gun body section. The cascade section includes a plurality of neutrodes arranged to form a neutrode stack. The method includes connecting a cascade neutrode stack to a rear body section of a vacuum plasma gun.

A nozzle for a liquid cooled plasma arc cutting torch is provided. The nozzle includes a hollow nozzle body and a nozzle jacket disposed about an external surface of the nozzle body. The jacket defines (i) a length along the central longitudinal axis and (ii) a diameter of a distal tip of the jacket at the distal region of the nozzle, where the length is greater than about 1.5 inches and a ratio of the length to the diameter is greater than about 1.4. The nozzle also includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet defined between the nozzle body and nozzle jacket at the proximal region of the nozzle. The nozzle further includes a plurality of coolant channels cooperatively defined between the nozzle body and the nozzle jacket. The plurality of coolant channels extend axially between the proximal region and the distal region of the nozzle.

A nozzle for a liquid cooled plasma arc cutting torch is provided. The nozzle includes a hollow nozzle body and a nozzle jacket disposed about an external surface of the nozzle body. The jacket defines (i) a length along the central longitudinal axis and (ii) a diameter of a distal tip of the jacket at the distal region of the nozzle, where the length is greater than about 1.5 inches and a ratio of the length to the diameter is greater than about 1.4. The nozzle also includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet defined between the nozzle body and nozzle jacket at the proximal region of the nozzle. The nozzle further includes a plurality of coolant channels cooperatively defined between the nozzle body and the nozzle jacket. The plurality of coolant channels extend axially between the proximal region and the distal region of the nozzle.

Apparatuses and methods for production of molybdenum targets, and the formed molybdenum targets, used to produce Tc-99m are described. The target includes a copper support plate having a front face and a back face. The copper support plate desirably has dimensions of thickness of about 2.8 mm, a length of about 65 mm and a width of about 30 mm; and the copper support plate desirably has either a circular or an elliptical cavity centrally formed therein by pressing molybdenum powder into the front face with a depth of about 200-400 microns. Also, the copper support plate includes cooling channels dispensed at the back face; wherein the copper support plate is water cooled by a flow of water during irradiation by a proton beam. Molybdenum powder is embedded and compressed onto the cavity of the copper support plate thereby creating a thin layer of molybdenum onto the copper support plate.

In some aspects, contact members to connect plasma torch leads to plasma cutting systems can include: a base portion; a set of ports within the base portion that include: a coolant supply port to convey a liquid coolant from the cutting system to a plasma arc torch connected to the contact member by the torch lead, a coolant return port: i) to convey return liquid coolant from the torch to the cutting system, and ii) to convey an operational current from the cutting system to the torch, at least one gas supply port to convey processing gases to the torch, and an ohmic contact connector; and a connector to couple the base portion to the cutting system and connect each of the ports and electrical connectors to respective complementary connections of the cutting system upon coupling to the cutting system.