Erosion Resistant Coatings for Large Size Gas Turbine Engine Compressor Airfoils
Navy SBIR FY2008.2


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2008.2
Topic No.: N08-144
Topic Title: Erosion Resistant Coatings for Large Size Gas Turbine Engine Compressor Airfoils
Proposal No.: N082-144-0363
Firm: Acree Technologies Incorporated
1980 Olivera Ave
Suite D
Concord, California 94520-5454
Contact: Mike McFarland
Phone: (925) 798-5770
Web Site: www.acreetech.com
Abstract: The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate the effectiveness of using Acree Technology's erosion resistant coating to protect large-size turbine engine compressor airfoils for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft. The JSF STOVL compressor airfoils for both the LiftFan and the F-135 engine are constructed using integrally bladed rotors that can be over a 1 meter in diameter. Acree's erosion resistant coating has been extensively tested in previous projects and is currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. Acree has large deposition chambers for applying our erosion resistant coating that are well suited for coating the JSF airfoils.
Benefits: The integrally bladed rotors used in the JSF for the compressors are very expensive to construct and the individual blades can not be removed. Hence it is important that the compressors be as well protected as possible. Acree's erosion resistant coating has been proven to offer significant protection from erosion and substantially extend the life of high-speed turbine components. Acree's erosion resistant coating allows maintenance and ownership costs to be significantly reduced. This concern has recently become more urgent as operations in the Middle East are leading to excessive airborne particle erosion of turbine components, particularly for vertical landing, low-altitude aircraft such as helicopters. The STOVL JSF will suffer from these same problems.

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