FEATURE
Dr. Yuri Zhuk, Technical Director, Hardide Coatings, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
In all industries, problem solving, technology developments, and challenging standard practices are key to improving performance. In extreme environments, or when wear is an
issue, the challenge is to maintain high performance while ensuring economic viability.
In the aerospace industry, leak-tightness of aircraft hydraulic
actuators and rotating shafts depends on seals. In abrasive and
corrosive environments, metal seal track or piston rod surface
;nish degradation can accelerate the rate of seal wear by an
order of magnitude. In addition to rotating parts being subject
to wear, aerospace components are subject to extremes in temperature depending on the location of the aircraft.
Use of hard, wear-resistant coatings can help increase the
component life, improve dimensional stability and quality of
the surface ;nish and, as a result, prevent premature wear of the
seal. This can help reduce downtime cost and improve overall
competitiveness.
We, as innovators in advanced surface coating technology,
have developed a range of surface engineering solutions to help
industry solve problems, improve ef;ciency and reduce down-time. Hardide coatings are advanced nano-structured tungsten
carbide coatings applied by low-temperature CVD (chemical
vapor deposition). Providing exceptional wear and corrosion
resistance combined with toughness and ductility, these patented coatings add value to components and reduce operational
costs by saving downtime, increasing productivity and improving performance.
Engineering a Solution
Hard chrome plating (HCP) has been widely used in the aerospace industry for many years. However, its production process is being banned in September 2017 under EU REACH
environmental and health and safety regulations, unless
otherwise authorized by the EU Commission, as HCP uses
Improving Component Life
in the Aerospace Sector
Hardide coating reactor being loaded.
