Advanced Blade-Damping Coatings

The object of Phygen’s proposal is to demonstrate the dual (damping and erosion) use capabilities of an electron beam physical vapor deposited coating for titanium alloy airfoils using a novel boron carbide composite coating. The potential of this coating has been demonstrated for attenuating vibration and resisting erosion with a survivability temperature of >600C (1100F). The expected outcome of the program is the engineering demonstration of a prototype damping/erosion coating for application in compressor components of high performance military gas turbine engines. In addition to optimizing the damping response, high cycle fatigue, impact and erosion/corrosion of laboratory specimens, the pilot lot manufacture of airfoil coatings on engine compressor components will be demonstrated. These coated blades will be further evaluated in high force shakers and spin rotors for structural integrity, damping and fatigue durability. The unequaled sand erosion resistance of the “black diamond-colored’ B4C/C coating, demonstrated in laboratory tests, will be directly compared with the ‘gold –colored’ titanium nitride coating used in current Navy military engines.