Critical Assessment 11: Structural repairs by cold spray

The deposition of material by cold spray is a relatively new technology. It is often applied to coating applications but can be used for the repair of defects in and damage to metal structures. The use of cold spray for repair is often favoured because, unlike thermal spray methods, cold spray does not bring about heat related damage to the component under repair. The status of the technology and the barriers to widespread commercial application are assessed. The types of repair that have been made with cold spray are discussed, and the unique features of cold spray that permit successful repairs are demonstrated.