Tribology coatings for mobility applications - Lesson 4: Coating solutions for aerospace
Welcome to lesson 4 of the Ionbond Summer School 2026!
Last time, we learned how hydrogen and alternative fuels influence tribological systems and the challenges they create.
Today, we take a closer look at coating solutions for aerospace.
Demanding environments in aerospace
Modern aerospace technologies operate in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. Components are exposed to extreme temperatures, high mechanical loads, aggressive atmospheres, particle erosion, and long service intervals where reliability is critical.
In these conditions, advanced coating solutions are not simply an option. They are an essential enabling technology.
In many applications, such as commercial aircraft, drones, helicopters, and satellites, coatings improve performance and extend service life. They protect critical parts against wear, corrosion, oxidation, and fatigue while supporting higher operating efficiencies.
DLC coatings in aerospace applications
In applications where minimal friction and dry running are required, and where only moderate temperatures are present, DLC coatings are also widely used in the aerospace industry.
As a result, they can be found in:
bearings
actuators
valve components
precision mechanisms
Coatings for space applications
Space applications impose even more demanding requirements. Satellites and spacecraft operate under vacuum conditions, experience extreme temperature cycling, and must function reliably for years without maintenance.
Therefore, DLC coatings must be specially adapted to withstand these challenging environmental conditions. This is similar to the previous section on DLC coatings in hydrogen-containing environments, where the operating environment also creates specific requirements for the coating system.
When DLC coatings reach their limits
If operating temperatures exceed certain limits, which for DLC coatings typically begin at around 350 °C, these coatings can graphitize.
During this process, the hard, diamond-like sp³ bonds transform into softer sp² bonds, causing the coating to lose its wear-resistant properties.
In such cases, among others, DLC coatings can be replaced by nitride-based hard coatings. Although these coatings have higher coefficients of friction, they provide strong protection against wear, corrosion, and oxidation.
Questions?
Discuss your challenges with André Hieke
André Hieke, Global Product Manager Mobility, will be glad to support you.
We will get back to you as soon as possible
André Hieke
Global Product Manager Mobility
André Hieke
Global Product Manager Mobility
Ionbond Summer School
Discover all our lessons on the performance-enhancing properties of tribology coatings for mobility applications
Lesson 1: How are tribology coatings designed?
Available on 4. August 2026
In this lesson, we explore how coatings for mobility applications are designed, the factors that must be considered during development, and why DLC coatings provide key advantages for specific application requirements.
Lesson 2: Highly resilient DLC coatings for extreme applications
Available on 11. August 2026
We are diving into highly resilient DLC coatings designed for demanding mobility applications where components are exposed to high loads, increased torque, changing lubrication conditions, and rough counter surfaces.
Lesson 3: Tribology coatings for hydrogen applications
Available on 18. August 2026
We'll explore challenges like corrosion resistance, long-term reliability, stable friction behaviour, and protection against hydrogen diffusion which tribological coatings face in applications involving alternative fuels.
Lesson 4: Coating solutions for aerospace
Available on 25. August 2026
We take a closer look at coating solutions for aerospace and how coating solutions help protect critical parts against wear, corrosion, oxidation, erosion, and fatigue while supporting higher efficiency and longer service life.
Lesson 5: Coating solutions for radar antennas
Available on 1. September 2026
In this lesson, we explore the future of autonomous driving and the role of radar antennas in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. These critical components require coating solutions that combine strong adhesion, high electrical conductivity, corrosion protection, uniform layer distribution, and cost-effective manufacturing at scale.