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

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将展示开发一种独特的、经济有效的低摩擦/低磨损摩擦学涂层的可行性。这将通过在标准镍或氨基甲酸钴镀液中使用纳米相WC/Co胶体溶液的电解共沉积过程来实现。这一点以前从未被证明过。目前的努力是针对航空航天和发电燃气轮机发动机的金属密封和气动管道部件，以及高性能汽车气缸和活塞环，以降低生命周期成本。预计涂层将包含冶金结合的纳米相WC颗粒在镍或钴基质中的极细分散，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，很容易集成到当前的运营中，从而促进其商业化。该工艺还将产生具有优异表面光洁度和厚度均匀度的近净形状涂层。因此，这些涂层几乎不需要机械抛光或不需要机械抛光，从而降低了总体组件成本。胶体纳米粒子和电解浴的选择灵活性将为一种新的表面工程工具提供可能性。这项技术具有填补热喷涂和气相沉积涂层之间的空白的潜力，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、高性能汽车气缸衬里和活塞环、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.