Thermal plasmas for material processing

Plasma technologies have undoubtedly gained high importance due to their outstanding properties and they have found a large field of scientific and technical applications. Thermal plasmas with temperatures of around 10,000 K and more are particularly suitable for material processing, e.g. for melting, cutting, welding or coating. They are also of increased interest in waste destruction or material synthesis. Following some remarks about the definition of "thermal plasmas" and their generation some representative examples of applications are described in more detail together with considerations about the relevant technical and economic importance at present and potentially in future.