BEARING COATING DEVELOPMENT

SPIRE HAS DEVELOPED EXTREMELY ADHERENT HARD COATINGS CAPABLE OF BEING DEPOSITED AT LOW SUBSTRATE TEMPERATURES (LESS THAN 100 DEG C). THEY INCLUDE DIAMOND-LIKE COATINGS (DLCS) AND ION BEAM ASSISTED COATINGS OF SILICON NITRIDE, BORON NITRIDE, AND TITANIUM NITRIDE USING SIMULTANEOUS NITROGEN ION BOMBARDMENT AND VACUUM DEPOSITION OF SILICON, BORON, OR TITANIUM. THIS PROCESS RETAINS MANY OF THE ADVANTAGES OF ION IMPLANTATION (SUPERIOR ADHESION) WHILE OVERCOMING IMPLANT THICKNESS LIMITATIONS AND ALLOWING LOWER PROCESSING COSTS. THESE COATINGS HAVE SHOWN DESIRABLE TRIBOLOGICAL AND CORROSION RESISTANCE PROPERTIES WHICH MAKE THEM IDEAL CANDIDATES FOR PROTECTING CRITICAL DOD BEARINGS. SPIRE'S EXPERIENCE WITH ION BEAM TREATING BEARINGS FOR A NAVY MANTECH PROGRAM UNIQUELY QUALIFIES IT TO APPLY THIS NEW COATING PROCESS TO BEARINGS.