MTC expands its range of wear-resistant Diamonex coatings for the aerospace industry

Morgan Technical Ceramics (MTC) has expanded its range of Diamonex diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings for use in the aerospace industry. The coatings can be applied to a variety of metals, plastics and glass, providing an improvement in both product life and operating efficiencies said the company. For aircraft windshields, the DiamondShield coating reduces the abrasion caused by desert sand environments. Other recent applications include a titanium landing gear bearing refurbishment program, landing lights and wing tip lenses.

Under harsh environments, Diamonex coatings provide a robust and durable solution for bearings, actuators, gears, fasteners, control mechanisms and landing gear as well as a variety of transparent products, according to the company.

In response to market demands for an environmentally friendly, corrosion protective coating, Diamonex developed its special Diamonex Crx coatings, which provide an environmentally friendly solution compared to existing hard chrome plating said the company. These coatings are deposited using a low temperature (<250°C) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, so the underlying substrate material is not affected. The coatings are also significantly thinner than hard chromium, and do not require any post process machining. They feature excellent adhesion and a low coefficient of friction. Compared to chrome plating or titanium nitride (TiN), the Diamonex Crx coatings are significantly harder and provide additional wear resistance and reduced coefficient of friction.

MTC’s Diamonex Ti coating has been approved by a leading aerospace prime contractor as fully interchangeable with the existing Tiodize AMS 2488 Type II coating on one of its aircraft’s landing gear bearings. Through qualification testing, the Diamonex DLC coating has been shown to have improved wear- resistant characteristics compared to Tiodize. It is a super hard coating (>15 gigapascals (GPa), which prevents fretting, wear and galling, thus extending component life, extending service intervals, and increasing flight up-time. It also has a low coefficient of friction, acting as a dry lubricant on mating surfaces and reducing wear and tear on components. The coating is stable through thermal cycling, which maintains coating integrity.