Innovative Materials for Highly Loaded Wear Application in Arresting Gear Tailhook Components

Keystone is proposing a project to demonstrate the capability of using an alternate material system and additive manufacturing for the arresting tailhook component currently made from 4330V steel. Keystone is proposing to compete a non-corrosive high-strength nickel superalloy against a high strength stainless steel for use in the forged body of the tailhook component. Further, Keystone is proposing to fabricate the tailhook using an electron beam digital digital Manufacturing system to produce the machining preform of the tailhook. Keystone proposes to manufacture samples of both alloys to establish basic mechanical property mechanical properties and to facilitate a down selection between the two alloys. After down selection, Keystone will create shop drawings to be used in the optional task for producing a full scale tailhook. Finally, Keystone will also conduct a heat treatment optimization in the optional task to assure that the properties of the new tailhook match or exceed those of the current material.