DoD Projects -
HCAT
The Hard Chrome Alternatives Team
Purpose and
structure: The Hard
Chrome Alternatives Team (HCAT) is the primary team engaged
in replacing chrome plate in military and commercial
systems. The Team is a loose association of DoD users
and organizations, the Canadian DND, Industry Canada, prime
contractors and other OEMs in the US and Canada, equipment
and process suppliers, and test laboratories. Work has
concentrated on aircraft, but the method is obviously
applicable to ships, submarines and vehicles.
Funding:
The primary sources of funding for
HCAT projects are from the DoD ESTCP and SERDP offices (the
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program and
the Strategic Environmental Technology Certification
Program), but addition funding has been provided by
Technology Partnerships Canada, Canadian Department of
National Defence, the Air Force CEVV program, ALGLE, PEWG,
JSF JPO, and other agencies.
Results:
The team has been very successful in developing processing
methods, generating performance data, and moving the
technology into production.
The primary coating of
choice to replace hard chrome is HVOF thermal spray.
However, HCAT is involved in numerous clean coating areas:
-
HVOF – High velocity oxy-fuel thermal
spray for chrome replacement on
-
Landing Gear – joint project between
DoD, Canadian DND, Technology Partnerships Canada
division of Industry Canada
-
Gas Turbine Engines – joint project
with PEWG
-
Propeller Hubs
-
Actuators
-
Helicopter Dynamic Components
-
ID Plasma Spray for coating internal
diameters
-
nCo-P –Nanophase Co electroplate for
chrome replacement on internals (Integran, Canada)
-
Electrospark Deposition for turbine
engine repair (Advanced Surfaces and Processes) – joint
project with PEWG. Also used for repair of other
components such as gun cradles and hydraulics
-
Supersonic Particle Deposition for
corrosion control on Mg alloys – HCAT/JSF program with
Australian Defence Science and Technology Organization (DSTO).
For full details see
the HCAT website at
www.hcat.org
HCAT meetings:
HCAT team meetings take place about every 9 months and are
open to anyone in the defense or commercial world interested
in chrome replacement. Copies of all briefings presented at
HCAT meetings are held on the teaming website
Teaming website:
The team information-sharing web
site at
www.materialoptions.com is the primary source of
technical data on the performance of HVOF coatings,
including fatigue, wear, corrosion, hydraulic tests, flight
tests and engine tests.
A username and password
for the teaming website is available on request to anyone
with a need for information. Contact Keith Legg.
Contacts:
Figure 1. HVOF
coating of a landing gear hydraulic cylinder (courtesy
Southwest United Industries).
Figure 2. Carrier launch of EA-6B with HVOF
coated landing gear. |
