Ultra Low Friction Hard Carbon Coatings for Naval Applications

Naval ships contain many systems that have rotating, sliding or otherwise wearing surfaces. Many of these systems require significant maintenance for lubrication and wear related adjustments. Navy has identified the potential use of near frictionlesscarbon coatings for improving the performance of such systems. Surmet proposes the use of ultra low carbon coatings to improve the efficiency and performance of these systems. Surmet's amorphous carbon coating, is extremely hard, lubricious, wear andcorrosion resistant. In Phase I, Surmet will determine th eperformance characteristics of its hard carbon coating in marine environment, including salt air, sea spray and submergence in seawater. In Phase II, potential applications will be identified andtested with the use of the hard carbon coating. A Phase III commercialization plan will be developed for rapid insertion of the technology in operating aircraft. Hard carbon DLC coatings are finding increasing use in the biomedical, aerospace andsemiconductor industry. The Navy has identified a few marine applications for the use of low friction hard carbon coatings. The success of this project will lead to significant maintenance and cost savings for the navy.