Development of a 4000 Hour Bearing for the F-35B Three Bearing Swivel Duct""

This proposal by Powdermet is offered in tandem with a separate proposal by a Wedeven Associates, Powdermet and DuPont Team targeted at developing a lubricated bearing system, incorporating improvements in the friction and wear material as well as thegrease. The Tandem Wedeven primed proposal will evaluate improvements to the system including grease improvements, modifications to the surface of the bearing ball and race surfaces and with substitutions in the bearing and race materials. This Phase ISBIR proposal is focused on developing corrosion resistant nickel based thermal spray hardfacing of the bearing ball and race materials, including developing Powdermet nickel coated hardfacing powders, and a High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) thermal sprayprocess for depositing the coatings. The anticipated results of this program will be demonstrating improved wear life of the lubricated bearing system using a corrosion resistant nickel/titanium nitride or nickel/silicon nitride thermal spray material thathas demonstrated very low wear and friction in other high temperature lubricated / lubrication loss applications being evaluated. The proposal also offers modification to the system including chrome addition to the nickel matrix for increased hardness andcorrosion resistance, and solid lubricants to extend life especially the wear after grease lubricant loss.