Overview
ISO 14917:2017 - Thermal spraying - Terminology, classification is the ISO second-edition international standard that establishes unified terminology, classification schemes and abbreviations for thermal spraying. It defines processes and general terms used across the thermal spray sector and classifies spray processes by type of spray material, type of operation (manual, mechanized, automatic) and type of energy carrier. The standard also specifies shorthand notations for spray processes, sprayed coatings and manufacturing steps to improve clarity in specifications and technical communication.
Key topics and technical scope
ISO 14917:2017 covers:
- Terms and definitions for thermal spraying equipment, process elements, coatings and deposit properties (e.g., spray jet, splat, deposition rate, deposition efficiency).
- Classification according to spray material (wire, powder, suspension, etc.), operation mode (manual/mechanized/automatic) and energy carrier (flame, plasma, electric arc, laser, cold gas, detonation, etc.).
- Process descriptions and recognized process families, including:
- Flame spraying (wire and powder)
- High-velocity flame processes and detonation spraying
- Cold (cold gas) spraying
- Arc spraying
- Plasma spraying (atmospheric, suspension, chamber, water-stabilized, induction, transferred-arc variants)
- Laser cladding and plasma-transferred arc surfacing (PTA)
- Equipment and component terminology (spray gun, nozzle, wire feed, powder feeder, injectors).
- Coating-specific vocabulary (substrate, bond coat, top coat, interface) and property terms (adhesive/cohesive strength, hardness, shear resistance).
- Abbreviations and post-treatment terminology for consistent documentation.
- Informative annexes such as a master chart of processes by energy carrier and a keyword index.
Practical applications and users
ISO 14917:2017 is intended for:
- Thermal spray process engineers, coating technologists, and R&D teams who require consistent process naming and classification.
- Quality managers and inspection personnel creating specifications, test plans and acceptance criteria.
- Procurement and contract writers specifying coatings and surface treatments for components.
- Technical trainers, standards bodies and educators who develop curricula or reference materials.
- OEMs and fabricators ensuring clear supplier communication and traceability of spray processes.
Practical benefits include improved interoperability of technical documents, clearer procurement specifications, consistent labelling of coatings/processes, and reduced miscommunication in international projects.
Related standards
ISO 14917 complements other standards addressing surface preparation, coating performance testing and inspection methods. For comprehensive specification and quality control, use ISO 14917 alongside applicable ISO/industry standards for surface engineering tests and acceptance criteria.
