SBIR Phase I: Electroplating of Tribocoatings Containing Nanophase WC/Co Particles

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将展示开发一种独特的、具有成本效益的、低摩擦/低磨损的摩擦学涂层的可行性。这将通过在标准镍或硫酸钴浴中使用纳米相WC/Co胶体溶液的电解共沉积工艺来完成。这一点以前没有被证明过。目前的工作方向是航空航天和发电燃气涡轮发动机的金属密封件和气动导管部件，以及高性能汽车汽缸和活塞环，以降低生命周期成本。该涂层有望在镍或钴基体中包含极细分散的冶金结合纳米相WC颗粒，这将提供低摩擦/低磨损的独特组合。与硬铬不同，这种涂层工艺对环境友好，易于集成到当前的操作中，从而促进了其商业化。该工艺还将产生具有优异表面光洁度和厚度均匀性的近净形状涂层。这些涂层将很少或不需要机械抛光，因此，降低了整体组件成本。胶体纳米相粒子和电解浴的选择灵活性将提供一种新的表面工程工具的可能性。这有可能填补热喷涂和气相沉积涂层之间的空白，并具有更广泛的国家利益应用。拟议技术的商业潜力包括：航空航天和发电金属密封，气动管道，高性能汽车气缸衬套和活塞环，轴承和其他摩擦学表面。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of developing a unique, cost-effective and low-friction/low-wear tribological coating. This will be accomplished using an electrolytic codeposition process employing a colloidal solution of nanophase WC/Co in a standard nickel or cobalt sulphamate bath. This has not been demonstrated previously. The current effort is directed toward metallic seals and pneumatic ducting components for aerospace and power generation gas turbine engines, and high performance automobile cylinders and piston rings to reduce life-cycle costs. The coating is expected to contain an extremely fine dispersion of metallurgically bonded nanophase WC particles in a nickel or cobalt matrix, which will offer a unique combination of low friction/low wear. Unlike hard chrome, this coating process is environmentally friendly and easily integrated within current operations, thereby facilitating its commercialization. The process will also generate near-net shape coatings with superior surface finish and thickness uniformity. These coatings will require little or no mechanical polishing, therefore, resulting in reducing the overall component cost. The selection flexibility of colloidal nanophase particles and electrolytic bathes will offer the possibility of a new surface engineering tool. This has the potential of filling the gap between thermal spray and vapor deposited coatings and have broader applications of national interest.Commercial potential of the proposed technology includes: aerospace and power generation metallic seals, pneumatic ducting, high performance automotive cylinder linings and piston rings, bearings, and other tribological surfaces.