This Could Be Forever: New Design Greatly Prolongs the Lifespan of Plasma Torches

Thanks to a new design contributed by a research team led by Prof. Zhao Peng from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the operation time for plasma torch was extended from several days to several years.

“We made the world’s longest-lasting plasma torch,” said Prof. Zhao.

Plasma torches, devices that generate thermal plasma, are pivotal in various industries due to their ability to efficiently produce high-temperature plasma. It can be applied in many fields including low-carbon metallurgy, powder spheroidization, carbon material preparation, and advanced material spraying. However, their limited lifespan hindered large-scale applications. The conventional fixed cathodes necessitate replacement upon depletion, resulting in short lifespans and high maintenance costs.