N092-117 TITLE: Optimized Corrosion Resistant Bearing and Gear Steel Thermal Processing

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Materials/Processes

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: F-35 - Joint Strike Fighter

OBJECTIVE: Develop an innovative thermal process that maintains all of the mechanical properties of Pyrowear® 675 but produces superior corrosion resistance when compared to state of the art steel processing technology.

DESCRIPTION: Pyrowear® 675 is an advanced high temperature corrosion resistance case carburized bearing and gear steel that has been shown to offer significant improvements in bearing performance, providing increased benefits to turbine machinery operating in a marine environment. Conventional carburizing techniques have had limited success in meeting all required properties necessary for bearing and gear performance. Typically, these basic mechanical properties and microstructures can be achieved, but corrosion resistance is not substantially better than conventional bearing steels like M50, 52100, or 440C. An innovative approach is needed to thermal process Pyrowear 675 to yield a steel meeting all of the necessary mechanical properties and possessing superior corrosion resistance for military gas turbine engines. The advanced thermal process should be optimized for high temperature turbine engine application in a marine environment. Coordination with a major turbine engine manufacturer is strongly encouraged.

PHASE I: Determine the feasibility of developing an innovative technology that will allow Pyrowear® 675 to be thermally processed with enhanced corrosion resistance, while maintaining required mechanical properties and microstructures.

PHASE II: Develop and test the prototype thermal process developed in Phase I and demonstrate production ready system capable of thermally processing full scale turbine engine bearings and gears.

PHASE III: Transition technology working with engine manufacturer to produce optimized corrosion resistant, full scale turbine engine bearings and gears.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Both commercial and military turbine engines would benefit from this technology by extending the useful life and performance of bearings and gears while reducing unscheduled maintenance and repairs. This technology would highly benefit any turbine powered system required to operate in a marine environment.

REFERENCES:
1. Pyrowear® 675 Stainless, Carpenter Stainless Steels and Specialty Alloys Data Sheet, http://www.cartech.com/ssalloysprod.aspx?id=2092

2. Grant, D. H., Chin,H. A., Klenke, C., Galbato, A. T., Ragen, M. A., and Spitzer, R. F., "High Temperature Aircraft Turbine Engine Bearing and Lubrication System Development," Bearing Steels: Into the 21st Century, ASTM STP 1327, J. J. Hoo and W. B. Green, eds., American Society for Testing and Materials, 1998.

3. Wert, D. E., "Heat Treatment and Corrosion Resistance of Carpenter Pyrowear 675 Stainless Alloy, Power Transmission and Gearing Conference, Vol. 88, ASME 1996.

4. Pfaffenberger, E., and Tarrantini, P., High Temperature Corrosion Resistant Bearing Steel Development", AIAA 93-2000, AIAA/SAE/ASME/ASEE 29th Joint Propulsion Conference, June 28-30, 1993.

KEYWORDS: Corrosion resistant steels; bearings; gears; steel thermal processing

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between April 20 and May 17, 2009, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting May 18, 2009, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (09.2 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 09.2 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.