Innovative Surface Modification for High Strength Steel Alloys to Enhance Corrosion Resistance

The Navy experiences costly corrosion maintenance problems and component failure resulting from corrosion. An innovative approach utilizing surface modification methods is needed to reduce processing and life cycle costs while providing a high component surface hardness with improved corrosion and wear resistance for Navy aircraft components such as drive mechanisms. The Phase I effort will involve development and demonstration of the feasibility of a cost efficient low temperature carburization surface modification process applicable to high strength martenstic stainless steels, such as Pyrowear 675, which is used in components such as in the weapons bay door drive system, in the Joint Strike Fighter. The use of the low temperature carburizing process will result in lower cost, increased corrosion resistant and wear resistant components for the JSF. Phase I will also involve laboratory testing to establish wear resistance and static strength levels and will also involve trade-off studies comparing low temperature carburizing of various martensitic and precipitation hardening stainless steel alloys. An Option Phase will involve optimization of the low temperature carburizing process for Pyrowear 675 for use in JSF components and laboratory testing to determine the fatigue, fracture toughness and corrosion resistance of low temperature carburized Pyrowear 675 alloy.