Nanolaminated Ti/TiN Fretting and Wear Resistant Coating

Root attachment areas of turbine blades and vanes experience in which oxide debris is generally formed under the small contact area and cannot escape. This leads to localized wear and defect formation. Generally, soft metal (Cu, Al) are used to allow the small relative motion to be taken up within the coating. Plasma sprayed Cu-Ni-In and Ni-graphite coatings are used currently in the mating areas and root attachments of turbine engines blades and vanes to provide fretting and wear resistance. These coatings however, suffer from limitations such as (1) poor quality and defects; (2) low density; (3) lack of adequate adherence; and (4) lack of uniformity and reproducibility. Foster-Miller proposes an innovative multilayer coating for imparting high fretting wear resistance to the mating surfaces. In Phase I, the feasibility and effectiveness of the coating system will be demonstrated using test coupons. Microstructural, mechanical and fretting characterization will be performed on the coupons. In the Phase I Option, a demonstration component will be coated and characterized. In Phase II, the technology will be further refined and applied to several components which will be characterized in cooperation with the Navy in an actual system environment. A commercialization plan will be developed and implemented for applying the technology to military and commercial turbines.