Ionbond aerospace coating solutions

Aerospace Coatings

Enhance performance, decrease operation costs and push application limits

aerospace coating solutions

Ionbond coatings for aerospace components

IHI Ionbond’s PVD, CVD and PACVD coatings are routinely applied on a variety of components in the aerospace industry. Their unique properties enhance performance, decrease operation costs, push application limits and even enable applications that would otherwise be impossible. Ionbond takes pride in having our coatings fly in various air- and spacecraft. Beyond the performance enhancement, Ionbond coatings also contribute to a cleaner environment by being an alternative to the environmentally hazardous electroplating process that is widely used in the aerospace industry.

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aerospace coating solutions

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Aerospace coating services

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The aerospace industry has strict quality requirements, which mandates special attention to processing of aerospace parts. Ionbond has long-standing experience with all steps of aerospace processing, including quality procedures, tooling design, coating application, etc.
iso certification
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 systems and components. Ionbond facilities in Consett (UK), Chassieu (FR) and Greensboro (US) are certified to produce coatings for Airbus aircraft.
nadcap accredited

Aerospace coating applications

Ionbond Tribobond coatings are widely used within the Aerospace sector to reduce abrasion, galling and fretting wear. Typical parts include components of landing gear, flight controls, actuators along with various  bearings and fasteners. In addition, Ionbond coatings are used to for various applications in jet engines – from CVD aluminizing for turbine components to PVD anti-erosion coatings on compressor airfoils. Some specialty coatings are successfully used for space applications as well. The use of such coatings reduces operating costs, increases maintenance intervals with virtually no environmental impact.

Airframe

aerospace coating bearing

Coatings for airframe components

Common structural materials in the aerospace industry (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 coatings for effective protection against fretting, galling and other aircraft-specific mechanical surface damages.

aerospace coating bearing

Typical components include:

  • Engine mounts
  • Spherical bearings
  • Rod ends
  • Fasteners
  • Actuator pistons/rods

Engine

Coatings for jet engine components

Jet engines are some of the most sophisticated mechanical systems created by humankind, needing to meet strict reliability demands in severe operating conditions that include high temperatures, abrasion, hot corrosion and oxidation. Ever-increasing fuel efficiency requirements  further challenge material and surface treatment selections for components of the engine.

Compressor and fan sections often require protection against hard particle erosion of airfoils. New turbofan engines with larger fans are even more susceptive to erosion damage, which ultimately leads to shorter MRO intervals.  IHI Ionbond offers a range of TiN and TiAlN coatings that provide effective protection against erosion.

turbin crosssection coatings
turbin crosssection coatings

Combustor and turbine sections operate at extremely high temperatures, requiring specialty coatings. For this purpose, IHI Ionbond developed a line of aluminum-based diffusion coatings applied by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. These coatings provide excellent protection against oxidation and hot corrosion on components such as airfoils, abradable seals and others. Unlike other aluminizing methods, CVD is environmentally friendly and does not utilize any powder media. In addition, the process allows for modification of classic aluminides with doping elements to further improve coating performance.

Tribobond physical vapor deposition (PVD) coatings are applied as a standard to components of main engine bearings. These coatings improve wear performance and prevent galling, fretting and surface fatigue.

Space

rocket coatings

Coatings For Space Applications

IHI Ionbond coatings have numerous applications in the space industry, both in satellites and launch vehicles. In many cases, these coatings have been specially developed or customized to meet unique functionality requirements.

For instance, Ionbond Tribobond coatings are used in elements of cryogenic fuel delivery systems to prevent galling and provide other functional improvements. Specialty Ionbond CVD diffusion barrier coatings are used to enable operation of plasma thrusters to control space probes and satellites. Ionbond engineers also developed coatings for extremely high-temperature applications, e.g. in rocket nozzles.

rocket coatings

Hard Chrome Replacement

hard chrome aerospace coatings

Coatings for Hard Chrome Replacement

Implementation of the REACH and RoHS initiatives to phase out the use of certain toxic materials forces aircraft manufacturers and their suppliers to look for more 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 coatings that are viable alternatives to their galvanic counterparts and which are already used in many applications. For instance, in aircraft actuation and control systems and various fasteners. For each new application, Ionbond engineers carefully examine the functionality of the galvanic coating and then recommend a suitable replacement from Ionbond’s portfolio.

More about Hard chrome replacement
hard chrome aerospace coatings

Diffusion coatings

aerospace diffusion coatings

Ionbond CVA diffusion coatings for jet engine turbine 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 coatings can be easily deposited onto internal surfaces, such as the cooling channels of blades, vanes or other turbine components. In addition, the CVA process opens up virtually unlimited possibilities to dope the coatings with elements such as Hf, Cr and Si to further increase their performance.

aerospace diffusion coatings

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Dr. Val Lieberman

Dr. Val Lieberman

Global Segment Manager Industrial Components

+41 62 553 42 35 [email protected]