Influence of Thermal Properties on the Sensitivity of Thermal Wave IInterferometry for the Characterization of Plasma-Sprayed Coatings

Thermal wave iInterferometry (TWI) is used as a means for measuring the thermal properties of plasma-sprayed coatings. The solution of the inverse problem is influenced by the magnitude of the signal-to-noise ratio and the amount of data available. This is investigated using a sensitivity analysis. The critical factors that determine the accuracy and the limitations of the technique are discussed. Numerical and experimental thermal wave tests confirm the range of applicability and the accuracy of TWI for measuring thermal properties.