Composite and Hybrid Tribological Coatings for Space Vehicle and Rover Applications

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This research programs will develop new, innovative surface engineering solutions for aerospace, including protective and solid-lubricating coatings fabricated by cold spray and physical vapor deposition. Surface engineering research is important for aerospace and many other industries to protect expensive infrastructure, increase reliability and reduce energy losses and fuel consumption. In the next 5 years, the principal investigator, with more than 20 years of experience on surface engineering, will train 1 research associate and 11 students (5 doctoral, 1 masters and 5 undergraduate) that will develop new coatings and test their mechanical and tribological properties. It is expected that at least six new coating technologies will be developed and tested for their process-structure-property relationships. Findings will be disseminated at international conferences and in scholarly publications. A specific focus will be the design of a hybrid coating structure for long term reliability of components used on space vehicles and lunar/Martian rovers for future space exploration missions. Development of the coatings and testing will be broken down in 4 main sub-projects: composite coatings by cold spray, solid lubricant coatings by PVD, hybrid coatings using both technologies and finally testing of these coatings in space simulators. This research will aid significantly Canada’s part in future space missions. The coatings designed will also have applications in commercial aerospace and other industries (energy, hydropower, mining, etc.). The surface engineering research will continue to foster green and sustainable manufacturing initiatives in Canada and the trained HQP will be well positioned to continue this effort in Canadian industry. The research conducted will be a significant contribution to the fields of surface engineering and tribology. New understanding of the cold spray coating process to make composite coatings will be gained and the viability and benefits of duplex coatings will be determined, pushing forward a newer area of surface engineering that has potential to create high performance and adaptive coatings for the most demanding applications.