SBIR-STTR Award

Fretting Wear Elimination for Titanium Components
Award last edited on: 11/11/2009

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : AF
Total Award Amount
$849,800
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
AF083-072
Principal Investigator
Solomon Berman

Company Information

IBC Coating Technologies Inc (AKA: IBC Materials & Technologies Ltd)

902 Hendricks Drive
Lebanon, IN 46052
   (765) 482-9802
   info@ibccoatings.com
   www.ibccoatings.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 04
County: Boone

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2009
Phase I Amount
$99,843
The development of the F-35 Lift Fan has revealed the possibility of fretting between the fan input shaft bearing OD surface and the titanium bearing supports in the Lift Fan gearbox housing.  A steel insert is currently used to provide protection against fretting of the gearbox housing.  In order to provide an effective solution and reduce the overall weight of the F-35, IBC Materials and Technologies has developed an advanced tribological coating that will dramatically reduce fretting, wear and corrosion of the Lift Fan gearbox housing, allowing elimination of the steel insert. The proposed solution is based on the Micro Plasma Oxidation (MPO) process that has been developed by IBC Materials and Technologies. The MPO-based Titanium Oxide ceramic coatings will provide superior performance, extended life and lower manufacturing costs compared with alternate methods, providing an opportunity for fuel savings and life cycle cost reduction for the F-35 weapon system.

Benefit:
The MPO-based Titanium Oxide ceramic coatings will allow elimination of the steel inserts currently used to protection against fretting of the titanium bearing supports in the gearbox housing.  This will not only reduce manufacturing part count and costs, it will reduce the overall weight of the F-35 Lift Fan system for the Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.  This will lead to reduced fuel and sustainment costs for the F-35 weapon system.

Keywords:
Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation, Micro Arc Oxidation, Micro Plasma Oxidation, Fretting, Wear, Corrosion, Titanium, Weight Reduction

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2011
Phase II Amount
$749,957
The development of the F-35 Lift Fan has revealed the possibility of fretting between the fan input shaft bearing OD surface and the titanium bearing supports in the Lift Fan gearbox housing. A steel insert is currently used to provide protection against fretting of the gearbox housing. In order to provide an effective solution and reduce the overall weight of the F-35, IBC Materials and Technologies has developed an advanced tribological coating that will dramatically reduce fretting, wear and corrosion of the Lift Fan gearbox housing, allowing elimination of the steel insert. The proposed solution is based on the Micro Plasma Oxidation (MPO) process that has been developed by IBC Materials and Technologies. The MPO-based Titanium Oxide ceramic coatings will provide superior performance, extended life and lower manufacturing costs compared with alternate methods, providing an opportunity for fuel savings and life cycle cost reduction for the F-35 weapon system.

Benefit:
PLASMA ELECTROLYTIC OXIDATION, MICRO ARC OXIDATION, MICRO PLASMA OXIDATION, FRETTING, WEAR, CORROSION, TITANIUM, WEIGHT REDUCTION

Keywords:
The Mpo-Based Titanium Oxide Ceramic Coatings Will Allow Elimination Of The Steel Inserts Currently Used To Protection Against Fretting Of The Titanium Bearing Supports In The