Plasma Surface Engineering for Bearing Wear and Corrosion Prevention in Advanced Gas Turbine Engines

Current engine bearing lubrication technology begins to break down at the high rotation speeds, loads and temperatures required for advanced fighter engines. Furthermore, in combat operation bearings may have to operate for short periods with no lubrication, and also resist pervasive corrosive environments. In this program the bearing material will be modified to be "slippery", more durable, resist corrosion and hold lubricant evenly on the entire contact surface. This is possible because a breakthrough in surface engineering technology can precisely control deposition of coatings at the level of vaporized atoms. This innovative technology can deposit atomically bonded, multiple layered, nanocomposite coatings combined with engineered surface texturing in a single integrated tribo-system, so coated engine bearings will perform dependably under extreme operating conditions. There is an enormous opportunity for future applications to lubricate a wide range of military and civilian mechanical components that operate in severe environments.