Acronym: SUPERSONIC

Title: Supersonic deposition of nano-structured surfaces

Project no.: FP7-NMP-2008-LARGE-2 CP-IP 228814-2

Duration: December 1^st, 2009 – November 30^th, 2013

Consortium:

1.        AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland

2.        MBN Nanomaterialia Spa, Carbonera, Italy

3.        Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

4.        Impact Innovations GmbH, Heldenstein, Germany

5.        Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

6.        Matres Scrl, Treviso, Italy

7.        SKF Aerospace France, Saint Vallier, France

8.        Alhenia AG, Baden-Dättwill, Switzerland

9.        Institutul National de Cercetare, IMNR Pantelimon, Judet Ilfov, Rumania

10.   Granta Design Ltd, Cambridge, United Kingdom

11.   Falex Tribology NV, Rotselaar, Belgium

Objective and methods:

The main aim of the project was to select coating materials, to produce powders using mechano-chemical reactions by High Energy Ball Milling (HEBM) and to deposit coatings on engineering components by means of Cold Gas Spraying (CGS) suitable for 3 different industrial applications:

1.   Aeronautical: coatings for high temperature resistant and long life load bearings for front and rear aircraft pylon attachments.

2.   Mechanical: abrasion resistant and fretting resistant coatings for aluminum alloys (floorboards, press-fitted gear wheel and hollow shafts in wind turbines).

3.   Biomedical: a new class of nanostructure Ti based coatings intended for implant joints of elbow, knee and hip of improved performances, biocompatibility and high wear resistance.

Selection of coating materials and substrates for the defined end-user applications based on experimental and theoretical feedback from the partners. Material design methodology was also aimed to establish the methods of materials characterization. Further activity consisted of development of the post deposition finishing and the process efficiency enhancement. The decisive role played the industrial end-users qualification tests of coatings. The crucial point of the project was to integrate the production of the appropriate powder with the coating technology and thus the project was focused on:

1.   Investigation and development of HEBM synthesis route of reactive and non-reactive powder systems that could be suitable for final application;

2.   Development of CGS equipment;

3.   Development of supersonic CGS deposition process for nanostructured systems.

Results:

A detailed overview of the materials characteristics identified for each application have been provided by the end-users involved in the project.  Eco-design software for material selection was created. A case-by-case study to define the boundary conditions related to the performance required by the end-users provided input to this task by the creation of a knowledge capture template designed to encourage the end-users to think about the factors which would influence the selection of appropriate materials for their applications. An objective in the definition of the planning of a matrix of systems was to enhance the wear and friction characteristics of the components whilst minimizing the environmental impacts. Based on key design requirements, drawing upon feedback from thermodynamic modeling and tribological testing, and taking into account processing capabilities and constraints, the initial list of candidate material systems has been refined.

Successful systems:

1.   For aeronautical applications Ni-NiSn (nickel with intermetallics) coating on steel of the following characteristics: dense, thick and nanostructured; higher hardness and better friction behavior against temperature; elevated temperature corrosion resistant; coefficient of friction better than benchmark.

2.   For biomedical applications Ti-TiC (titanium reinforced) coating on Ti6Al4V alloy of the following characteristics: dense, thick and nanostructured; enhanced hardness and wear resistance; biocompatibility.

3.   For mechanical applications FeCuAl-Al₂O₃ (FeCu reinforced by alumina) and Co-WC (WC in cobalt matrix) on aluminum alloys of the following characteristics: dense, thick and nanostructured; higher hardness and much better abrasive resistance than the substrate; coefficient of friction better than benchmark; high repeatability.

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