Specific fuel consumption improved by Tecvac Nitron Flight Anti erosion coatings

Tecvac will show the advanced Nitron Flight coatings at the Aero-Engine Expo in October 2008. Nitron Flight coatings give between 140% and 870% erosion protection gains compared to uncoated high performance alloys typically used in aero engines. Recent tests indicated that one  coating, Nitron Flight CA performed remarkably well to give between 14 and 33 times erosion protection improvement on coated test pieces.

These new Tecvac coatings on stand B15 can play a major role in reducing airlines' operating costs says Simeon Collins, Tecvac's sales manager  "Multi-layer coatings of this type on super-finished compressor blades ( ..which obviously vary between engine designs and materials) offer the prospect of significant benefits in reduced wear and related maintenance intervals. They also help reduce specific fuel consumption, possibly between 0.75 and 1.5%. "

The NitronTM Flight coatings have achieved dramatic reductions of erosion wear on high performance alloy surfaces.  NitronTM coatings, with hardnesses of 1800HV can be applied to titanium, steel and advanced alloy surfaces, such as aero-engine blades at temperatures up to 700 degrees Centigrade.

Tecvac's PVD technology can apply graded coatings, precision-engineered in thickness and composition, to critical flying parts such as aero-engine blades and other high stress components.  The NitronTM Flight coatings, from 3 to 30 microns thick depending on the application, can substantially reduce both wear and friction, to enable engine and airframe designers to reduce total life costs, extend maintenance intervals, increase aircraft availability, reduce specific fuel consumption, and, by allowing substitution of lighter weight metals, reduce the use of expensive and costly alloys whilst simultaneously increasing payloads.

Tecvac Limited is also featuring the new InnerArmorTM process which provides a DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating on the internal surfaces of flying parts and aerospace engine components. DLC coatings can be applied to the internal surfaces of bores, tubes and hydraulic cylinders.

Tecvac's parent company Wallwork Heat Treatment also offers heat treatment services including plasma nitriding, vacuum carburising, super-annealing, solution treatments and other aerospace approved metallurgical services.

Wallwork Heat Treatment Ltd and Tecvac Limited jointly hold accreditations to major manufacturers, including Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus, Hawker Beechcraft and Goodrich, as well as meeting NADCAP and AS 9000 standards.