High-temperature resistant aero engine coatings

Citation

(2009), "High-temperature resistant aero engine coatings", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 81 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2009.12781fad.001

High-temperature resistant aero engine coatings

Article Type: Materials From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 81, Issue 6

Because higher operating temperatures result in greater efficiency, the current trend is for new aircraft gas turbine engines to run hotter than their predecessors.

As a result, the construction of these engines may require new or modified materials to resist the higher temperatures.

The need for increased heat resistance applies to the specialised coatings used on and, in particular, those used inside the engine as much as to any other materials.

Indestructible Paint Ltd of Birmingham, who provide these specialised organic and inorganic engine coatings work in close conjunction with most of the main engine manufacturers.

The company is currently running development programmes to produce new coatings that meet the exacting demands posed by the latest engine designs.

Often involving a close liaison between Indestructible's technical and technical sales personnel and the engine manufacturer's technical and commercial staff, this type of programme sometimes requires co-operative effort on an almost day-to-day basis.

On occasion, other companies may also be involved. A recent example of this was a three way project that needed close co-operation between a manufacturer of bearings, the engine maker and Indestructible Paint Ltd.

In this case, it was necessary for the bearing manufacturer to swage a casing around a ball race, but the existing dry film lubricants (DFLs) often used for engine bearings cracked during or after the swaging process.

As a result of the inter company co-operation, Indestructible Paint Ltd were able to develop and produce a new DFL for the purpose. This successfully withstood the very high temperatures that occurred in the service life of the engine as well as the critical swaging operation.

Several other new developments, in this context, have involved the use of nano particles to provide enhanced coating properties such as hardness and heat resistance.

One of these is a high heat resistant aluminium coating utilising ceramic nano particles for use on aero engine shafts and components operating at a temperatures up to 600°C.

Details are available from: Indestructible Paint Ltd. Tel.: +44 (0) 121 702 2485.