Hardide Plc (LON:HDD) Coatings’ chemical vapor deposition coatings can replace hard chrome plating and high-velocity oxy-fuel coatings.
In aerospace, where extreme operating environments push materials and components to the edge of their design capabilities, companies continually seek economically viable ways to maintain and improve performance.
Tackling corrosion and wear is particularly important: the leak-tightness of aircraft hydraulic actuators and rotating shafts depends on seals. In abrasive and corrosive environments, metal seal track or piston rod surface finish degradation can accelerate the seal wear rate.
Tighter legislative restrictions on hard chrome plating (HCP) and limitations of alternatives such as high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) coatings is growing the demand for hard, wear-resistant coatings that increase component life, enhance dimensional stability and component quality, while reducing downtime costs and improving competitiveness.
Hard chrome, cadmium plating
HCP is widely used in aerospace to protect steel components against wear, corrosion, and galling. However, it uses carcinogenic hexavalent chromium salts in its process, and will shortly be banned without special authorization in the European Union under Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) environmental and health and safety regulations. Additionally, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is imposing increasingly tight restrictions.
