HVOF Coatings on Internal Diameters of High Strength Steel Tubes

ABSTRACT: The main goal of the present Phase I proposal is to examine the feasibility of applying the HVOF ID gun process to coat the internal surfaces of the landing gear components. HVOF is an environmentally friendly process compared to hard chrome plating in terms of hex-Cr elimination and avoiding hydrogen embrittlement. Due to their excellent erosion, corrosion and high temperature wear resistance, HVOF WC-Co based coatings will be carried out in Phase I. Various HVOF guns such as HVOF JetKote, Thermico"s ID Cool Flow gun and Merlyn (A-Flame)briefcase ID gun will be tried. Hence, in this phase I SBIR program, DRS Research in collaboration with Plasma Technology Inc. and General Dynamics team, intends to demonstrate the feasibility of use of modified HVOF process technology for effective realization of WC-17Co and WC-10Co-4Cr based coatings in ID bores. BENEFIT: Successful completion of the phase I program will set the stage of commercialization of the ID coating technology to not only landing gear applications, but also to automotive industry, oil and gas exploration industry etc. Deep hole drilling tubes face not only excessive wear due to sand and other particulates, but also are exposed to corrosive media leading to heavy wear. ID gun coating technology developed during this program will address these problems for the multi billion dollar deep hole exploration industry.