Graded-Composition Refractory Coatings for Protection of Cu-Rails for Electromagnetic Launchers
Navy STTR FY2010.A
Sol No.: |
Navy STTR FY2010.A |
Topic No.: |
N10A-T025 |
Topic Title: |
Graded-Composition Refractory Coatings for Protection of Cu-Rails for Electromagnetic Launchers |
Proposal No.: |
N10A-025-0647 |
Firm: |
Engineered Coatings, Inc. P.O. Box 4782
Grand Junction, Colorado 81503-4782 |
Contact: |
Frank Kustas |
Phone: |
(970) 243-8828 |
Web Site: |
www.eciwear-corrosioncoatings.com |
Abstract: |
The Navy is developing an electromagnetic (EM) launcher for long-range naval surface-fire-support. Severe operating conditions of the EM system place stringent requirements for materials, including high current and magnetic fields, high temperatures, contact with liquid metals, high stress/gouging from balloting contacts and high-speed-sliding electrical-contact with an Al armature. Engineered Coatings Inc., Southwest Research Institute, and the Institute for Advanced Technology, University of Texas, will demonstrate thick Plasma-Enhanced Physical Vapor Deposited coatings to protect copper rails with: 1) graded composition Cu-refractory metal (e.g., Ta, W or Cr) coatings; 2) solid-lubricating nanomultilayer nitride coatings (e.g., TiAlCrN / TiN bilayers); and 3) nanostructured (nm crystal size) nitride coatings. Basic coating properties; electrical resistivity/conductivity, indent-adhesion/toughness, hardness after thermal exposure, oxidation resistance, and sub-scale rail gun experiments, will be determined for these coating groups. A down-selected coating will have additional rail-gun tests in the Phase I option to assess coating reliability and reproducibility. |
Benefits: |
Protective coatings for protection of conductive components used in high-speed mag-lev contacts, electrical generation facilities, high current switches and sections (rocket-engine thrusters and nozzle ramps) for re-entry protection of spacecraft. |
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