Aerospace coating
Enhance performance, decrease operation costs and push application limits
Ionbond coatings for aerospace components
IHI Ionbond’s PVD, CVD and PACVD aerospace coating services are routinely applied on a variety of components in the aerospace industry. Their unique properties enhance performance, reduce operation costs, push application limits, and even enable applications that would otherwise be impossible. Ionbond takes pride in having our aerospace coatings fly in various air- and spacecraft. Beyond performance enhancement, Ionbond aerospace defense coating solutions also contribute to a cleaner environment by providing alternatives to environmentally hazardous electroplating processes commonly used in the aerospace industry.
Coatings for airframe components
Common structural materials in the aerospace industry—such as titanium, aluminum alloys, stainless steels, and Inconel—are prone to galling, which can lead to adverse surface effects in contact areas. The related phenomenon of fretting wear can cause underperformance or even failure of critical components. IHI Ionbond offers a comprehensive range of Tribobond™ aerospace defense coatings for effective protection against fretting, galling, and other aircraft-specific mechanical surface damages.
Typical components include: Engine mounts, spherical bearings, rod ends, fasteners, actuator pistons/rods
Jet engine coating components
Jet engines are among the most demanding mechanical systems created by mankind. They must meet stringent reliability requirements under severe operating conditions that include high temperatures, abrasion, hot corrosion and oxidation. Ever-increasing fuel efficiency requirements pose a further challenge in the selection of materials and surface treatments for jet engine coating components.
For compressor and fan sections, protection against hard particle erosion is crucial, especially in newer turbofan engines with larger fans prone to erosion damage. Ionbond offers TiN and TiAlN aircraft coatings for effective erosion protection.
Combustor and turbine sections, operating at extreme temperatures,equire specialty aerospace coatings. Ionbond meets this demand with aluminum-based diffusion coatings applied through an eco-friendly CVD process. These coatings excel in protecting against oxidation and hot corrosion on components like airfoils and abradable seals. Unlike alternative aluminizing methods, CVD is powder media-free and environmentally friendly, also allowing for the modification of classic aluminides with doping elements to enhance aerospace coating performance.
Main engine bearings benefit from standard Tribobond™ PVD aerospace defense coatings, enhancing wear resistance and preventing issues like galling, fretting, and surface fatigue.
Coatings For Space Applications
Ionbond coatings have numerous applications in the space industry, both in satellites and launch vehicles. In many cases, these aerospace coatings have been specially developed or customized to meet unique functionality requirements.
For instance, Ionbond's Tribobond™ coatings are used in cryogenic fuel delivery systems to prevent galling and provide other functional improvements. Specialty Ionbond™ CVD diffusion barrier coatings enable plasma thrusters to operate on space probes and satellites. Ionbond engineers have also developed aerospace defense coatings for extremely high-temperature applications, such as those in rocket nozzles.
Coatings for Hard Chrome Replacement
With the implementation of REACH and RoHS initiatives to phase out certain toxic materials, aircraft coating manufacturers and suppliers are looking for environmentally friendly alternatives to chrome and cadmium electroplating. Extensive programs to eliminate galvanic coatings have been initiated by every aircraft manufacturer, impacting the entire supply chain. IHI Ionbond offers aerospace coatings that are viable alternatives to galvanic counterparts and already used in various applications, such as in aircraft actuation and control systems and various fasteners. For each new application, Ionbond engineers carefully assess the function of the existing aircraft coating and then recommend a suitable replacement from Ionbond’s portfolio.
Aerospace certifications
The aerospace industry has strict quality requirements, which mandates special attention to the processing of aerospace coating parts. Ionbond has long-standing experience with every step of aerospace processing, including quality procedures, tooling design, coating application, and more.
Ionbond aerospace facilities have the required accreditations, including ISO 9001, AS 9100 and NADCAP, as well as specific qualifications from aircraft makers and suppliers of aerospace defense coatings and systems. Ionbond facilities in Consett (UK), Chassieu (FR), and Greensboro (US) are certified to produce aircraft coatings for Airbus aircraft.
Ionbond™ CVA diffusion coatings for jet engine turbine coating sections
Ionbond offers a special class of coatings to provide protection against high-temperature oxidation and hot corrosion in the hot section of jet engine turbines. These coatings are based on chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diffusion aluminizing, also known as CVA, and are offered by Ionbond under the brand name Ionbond™CVD 66.
Unlike pack aluminizing, CVA aerospace defense coatings can be easily deposited onto internal surfaces, such as the cooling channels of blades, vanes, or other turbine components. Additionally, the CVA process allows for doping the coatings with elements such as Hf, Cr, and Si to further enhance their performance.
Questions?
Discuss your challenges with Val Lieberman
Dr. Val Lieberman, Global Segment Manager Industrial Components, will be glad to support you.
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Dr. Val Lieberman
Global Segment Manager Industrial Components
Dr. Val Lieberman
Global Segment Manager Industrial Components