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An x-ray tube having a coated x-ray tube frame inner surface and a coated anode assembly is provided. The x-ray tube includes an x-ray tube frame in which an anode assembly is disposed therein. A cathode assembly is also disposed within the x-ray tube frame that emits an electron beam to strike a ta

An x-ray tube having a coated x-ray tube frame inner surface and a coated anode assembly is provided. The x-ray tube includes an x-ray tube frame in which an anode assembly is disposed therein. A cathode assembly is also disposed within the x-ray tube frame that emits an electron beam to strike a target surface of the anode assembly and form x-rays. A plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating is formed on an inner surface of the x-ray tube frame and on the anode assembly to dissipate heat created by the electron beam.

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1. An x-ray tube comprising: an x-ray tube frame;an anode assembly disposed within the x-ray tube frame;a cathode assembly disposed within the x-ray tube frame that emits an electron beam to strike a target surface of the anode assembly and form x-rays; anda plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating for

1. An x-ray tube comprising: an x-ray tube frame;an anode assembly disposed within the x-ray tube frame;a cathode assembly disposed within the x-ray tube frame that emits an electron beam to strike a target surface of the anode assembly and form x-rays; anda plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating formed on an inner surface of the x-ray tube frame and on the anode assembly to dissipate heat created by the electron beam;wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating covers an entirety of the target surface of the anode assembly so as to enhance heat transfer from the anode assembly to the x-ray tube frame. 2. The x-ray tube of claim 1 wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating has an emissivity of greater than 0.9 in the wavelength range of 0.3 to 1.5 micrometers. 3. The x-ray tube of claim 1 wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating has a thickness of approximately 100 micrometers. 4. The x-ray tube of claim 1 wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating, in combination with the x-ray tube frame, is substantially non-transmissive to x-ray radiation. 5. The x-ray tube of claim 1 wherein the anode assembly further comprises: a focal track on the target surface;a rotatable shaft connected to the target surface by way of a braze joint; anda front bearing positioned about the rotatable shaft to allow for rotation therein, wherein the front bearing is connected to the x-ray tube frame by a bolted joint. 6. The x-ray tube of claim 5 wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating is configured to lower a maximum operating temperature of at least one of the focal track, the braze joint, the bolted joint, and the front bearing. 7. The x-ray tube of claim 1 wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating is configured to increase radiative heat transfer from the anode assembly to the x-ray tube frame and from the x-ray tube frame out to an ambient environment. 8. The x-ray tube of claim 1 wherein at least one of the x-ray tube frame and the anode assembly further comprises, at least in part, a tungsten-rhenium alloy. 9. A method of manufacturing an x-ray tube assembly comprising the steps of: forming a vacuum enclosure, the vacuum enclosure having a high vacuum in an interior volume thereof;positioning a cathode assembly within the interior volume of the vacuum enclosure;positioning a target assembly within the interior volume of the vacuum enclosure; andplasma spraying a tungsten oxide coating to an interior face of the vacuum enclosure and to the target assembly;wherein the step of positioning the target assembly further comprises: securing a bearing assembly to the vacuum enclosure;mounting a rotatable shaft within the bearing assembly;brazing a target surface to the rotatable shaft by way of a braze joint; andforming a focal track on the target surface;wherein plasma spraying the tungsten oxide coating to the target assembly comprises plasma spraying the tungsten oxide coating over the focal track, the target surface and a portion of the rotatable shaft. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the tungsten oxide coating forms a surface on the interior face of the vacuum enclosure and on the target assembly having an emissivity of above 0.9. 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of spraying comprises plasma spraying a tungsten oxide coating onto the interior face of the vacuum enclosure and on the target assembly having a thickness of approximately 100 micrometers. 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of positioning the target assembly further comprises: securing a bearing assembly to the vacuum enclosure;mounting a rotatable shaft within the bearing assembly;brazing a target surface to the rotatable shaft by way of a braze joint; and forming a focal track on the target surface. 13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of forming the target assembly from a tungsten-rhenium alloy. 14. An x-ray source comprising: a housing comprising an interior surface that surrounds a vacuum chamber;an anode assembly positioned within the housing and comprising a shaft, a target cap attached to the shaft, and a focal track formed on the target cap, with the anode assembly connected to the housing by way of a bearing assembly;a cathode positioned across from the anode assembly within the vacuum chamber and configured to shoot a stream of electrons toward the focal track, wherein thermal radiation having a wavelength range of approximately 0.3 to 1.5 micrometers is formed when the electron stream strikes the focal track; anda plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating applied to the interior surface of the housing and to the anode assembly, the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating having a spectral emittance of above 0.9 for the thermal radiation;wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating covers an entirety of the target cap, including the focal track, and a portion of the shaft. 15. The x-ray source of claim 14 wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating has a thickness of approximately 100 micrometers. 16. The x-ray source of claim 14 wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating is configured to increase radiative heat transfer from the anode assembly to the housing. 17. The x-ray source of claim 14 wherein the anode assembly further comprises a substrate formed of a tungsten-rhenium alloy. 18. The x-ray source of claim 14 wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating has a spectral emittance of approximately 1.0 for the thermal radiation. 19. The x-ray tube of claim 5 wherein the plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating covers an entirety of the target surface, including the focal track, and a portion of the rotatable shaft.