Interesting case studies exist in the automotive and other motor vehicle fields where the versatility of thermal spray processes and materials combinations has been adapted for special functions. Examples include shifter forks of manual transmissions and diode rectifier assemblies for alternators. Wear protection is a characteristic defining a class of coating materials, metals particularly, applied not only to motor vehicle parts, but also to components of aircraft and land-based gas turbines, steel mill machinery, industrial processing equipment and many other functional devices. Another class, ceramic oxides, are sidely used as thermal barriers, but not so much for dielectric properties. A third class of applied materials provide a special function layer on substrates, such as to enable attachment or gain environmental protection.
