PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT OF TI ALLOYS FOR WIDER USE IN AEROSPACE APPLICATIONS

摘要

Advanced alloys are being developed and tested to offer superior functional characteristics of Aerospace components. Metals such as Ti, Al and Mg are evaluated and utilized. Specifically, Ti is light, non-corrosive and structurally strong. However, excessive wear, erosion and friction of Ti surfaces due to strong metal-to-metal contact, cold welding and low hardness prohibit wider use of Ti alloys for such components as gears, shafts, axles, bearings, etc. SANOVA has developed and patented new highly advanced method for thermo-chemical processing of metal surfaces - LINTERPROCESS~(TM) (Liquid Internal Thermo-chemical Processing) - to dramatically improve their performance characteristics, such as hardness, strength, wear, erosion and corrosion resistance. The process employs rapid physical direct heating (inductive, resistive, etc.) of metal parts in contact with specially formulated cold liquid active medium (LAM). This simple, inexpensive, safe and highly effective process creates a superior diffusion protective surface layer on various metal parts and components, achieved with gradual enhancement of chemical composition, structure and properties of metal. LINTERPROCESS~(TM) technology is unique and brings many important benefits as compared to traditional heat treatment technologies. Specifically, SANOVA’s work with various products made from titanium alloys consistently yielded diffusion surface layer hardness of HRC 70+, achieved in just minutes of processing! Such performance breakthroughs allow significantly broader and more effective use of Ti alloys in manufacturing of lightweight highly durable and cost-effective aerospace components. SANOVA’s new powerful treatment technology is highly effective, versatile and tightly controlled. It is equally efficient in treating the entire component, or just a portion of a component. A fully-functional production treatment equipment prototype, created by SANOVA, greatly simplifies customization of treatment protocols and serves as base for design of custom production equipment for effective processing of many production components. Further explanation of LINTERPROCESS~(TM) technology and production equipment, as well as examples of treatment results, are presented in this article.