2012 Business Overview

Surface Technologies

The Surface Technologies segment provides highly technical services that enhance the performance and extend the life of critical components. Shot and laser peening processes impart beneficial stresses to metal components to increase resistance to fatigue and stress failure. Specialty coatings provide a range of end-use properties tailored to a component’s operating environment. Materials testing confirms physical and metallurgical properties during the design phase of the manufacturing cycle, as well as quality assurance and finished goods testing during the production phase. Our expertise in failure analysis aids customers in identifying and solving surface treatment issues. Markets include:

Commercial Aerospace

Support of commercial aircraft production by shot and laser peening of airframe structural components, such as ribs and spars, to improve fatigue resistance. Extensive use of peen forming to shape the complex aerodynamic curvatures of aircraft wing skins prior to assembly. Shot and laser peening of highly stressed rotating turbine components, such as blades and disks, to prevent fatigue and failure. Thermal spray coatings to provide protection against high heat and corrosion inside the hottest areas of the turbine engine, and reduce air gaps to improve operating efficiencies. Solid film lubricants provide anti-seizing properties to aircraft structural fasteners. Analytical testing of metal forgings for proper mechanical and metallurgical properties before they are machined into expensive components.

Defense

Peening of military helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft structural and turbine engine components. Thermal spray coatings for protection of turbine engine components.

Power Generation

Thermal spray coatings to provide thermal barrier and high-temperature oxidation and corrosion resistance for power generation turbines.

Oil and Gas

Shot peening of drilling components for offshore and land-based rigs to prevent fatigue. Corrosion-resistance coatings for offshore oil rigs. Thermal spray coatings to provide wear and abrasion resistance for upstream oil and gas drilling equipment.

General Industrial

Shot peening of automotive components such as transmission gears, connecting rods, and crankshafts to increase fatigue resistance. Solid film lubricant and zinc-rich coatings provide sliding wear, anti-seizing and corrosion resistance for automotive hardware. Parylene coatings provide lubricity, moisture barrier resistance, and biocompatibility in medical device and electronic applications. Analytical testing of the physical and alloy properties of medical device components is performed during the design phase, as well as for quality assurance during the production phase.