Establishing a UK-based Powder Supply Chain for Engineered Powders (Engineered Powders UK)

冷喷涂是一种修复高价值铝、镁和钛航空航天部件在使用中的磨损/腐蚀损坏的新技术，这些部件无法通过其他方法修复。维修具有技术、成本和环境效益，但英国在采用这项技术方面落后。在美国和澳大利亚，研发了200多架军用飞机维修项目，批准了数百项商业航空维修项目，迄今为纳税人和航空业节省了至少1亿美元。现有的维修是有维度的，但承重维修现在也在开发中。这需要特殊的热处理金属粉末，因为在冷喷涂中，粉末以超音速撞击表面，并通过类似于爆炸焊接的机制与其结合。由于不会熔化，因此粉末结构直接转移到涂层上。对这些粉末的研究在美国才刚刚开始，仍然存在许多技术挑战。这些粉末必须进一步开发和证明，并建立可靠的商业供应。在这个项目中，英国有机会在用于冷喷涂的工程粉末方面确立全球领先地位。在InnovateUK的投资下，PSI有限公司(一家中小企业)将利用其在粉末领域30年的经验，将自己定位为先进冷喷涂粉末的全球供应商。为此，PSI正在与BAE系统公司和TWI公司合作。TWI拥有欧洲唯一一家独立的最先进的冷喷涂设施，自2006年以来一直活跃在冷喷涂领域。英国宇航系统公司估计，该项目的成果可以在8年后为英国纳税人节省1亿英镑的税收。中小型企业项目合作伙伴阿尔法泰克高性能涂料有限公司正在考虑投资冷喷涂，以期将现有和新客户的飞机部件维修商业化。

Cold spray is a new technology to restore in-service wear/corrosion damage on high-value aluminium, magnesium and titanium aerospace parts that are unrepairable by other means. Repair has technical, cost and environmental benefits, but the UK is lagging behind in adopting the technology. In the US and Australia over 200 military aircraft repairs have been developed and hundreds of commercial aviation repairs approved, saving taxpayers and the aviation industry at least $100m so far. Existing repairs are dimensional, but load-bearing repairs are now also being developed. This requires special heat treated metal powders, because in cold spray, powder impacts a surface at supersonic speeds and bonds to it via a mechanism similar to explosion welding. There is no melting, so the powder structure is transferred directly to the coating. Research into these powders has just started in the USA and many technical challenges remain. The powders must be further developed and proven, and a reliable commercial supply established. In this project, the UK has the chance to establish a global lead in engineered powders for cold spray. With InnovateUK investment PSI Ltd. (an SME) will take advantage of its 30 years’ experience in powders to position itself as a global supplier of advanced cold spray powders. To this end, PSI is partnering with BAE Systems and TWI. TWI owns the only independent state-of-the-art cold spray facility in Europe, and has been active in cold spray since 2006. BAE Systems estimate the project outcomes could save the UK taxpayer >£100m pa after 8 years. SME project partner Alphatek Hyperformance Coatings Ltd is considering investing in cold spray, with a view to commercialising aircraft component repairs for existing and new clients.