Alternative Materials to Cu-Be for Landing Gear Bushing/Bearing Applications

ABSTRACT: In Air-Force landing gear systems, high strength CuBe alloys are used in bushing applications where high wear resistance and strength is critical. Beryllium can be toxic and presents health concerns; removal from DoD weapons systems is likely, and the need for Be-free replacement materials is critical. QuesTek Innovations, a leader in the field of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering, (ICME), proposes to evaluate two of its new, Be-free, advanced bushing alloys, Cuprium and QuestalloyTM CO, to replace the incumbent CuBe alloy C17200 in demanding bushing applications. These alloys were developed under previous DoD SBIR and private industry funding and are ready to be qualified for service. In Phase I, QuesTek will formally define performance goals, procure promising material candidates, and demonstrate technical feasibility with coupon-scale bushing wear testing and mechanical property testing. QuesTek has partnered with OEM Northrop Grumman, who will serve as the voice-of-the-customer, and Fatigue Technologies, who will serve as the voice-of-industry and assist in defining property goals and material assessment. Successful Phase I efforts will allow QuesTek to further characterize material performance in long-term wear testing, and outline necessary qualification procedures to enable the use of one or more new materials in flight-critical applications.; BENEFIT: By displacing a high-strength CuBe alloy, QuesTek anticipates commercial applications to include bushings, bearing traces, and other low-friction wear surfaces. Of these components, those in the aerospace industry are identified as the most likely replacement targets. Alternative CuBe applications, such as nozzles and seals may also be replaced with the materials developed under this funding.