Development of Pulse Water Strip of Tungsten Carbide HVOF Coatings and Chrome Plating on Landing Gear Components

Chrome plating has been utilized for Landing Gear components for over half a century and High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) tungsten carbide WC-Co coatings are currently being utilized for chrome replacement for aerospace applications and implemented on many non-aerospace applications. Landing Gear components are typically made of High Strength Steel (HSS) and are very sensitive to processing techniques. Currently, chrome plating and HVOF WC-Co coatings are stripped via wet chemical baths at overhaul; however, both processes require different chemical solutions that can be harmful to the HSS substrates during processing. These HSS processing requirements are typical on many other aircraft applications such as flap and slat tracks, actuators, propeller systems and other engine / aircraft support structure. This proposal will discuss the research and development and future qualification requirements and related concerns to utilize an environmentally and process friendly, pulse water strip system to remove both chrome plating and HVOF WC-Co applications on high strength steel landing gear components.