Surface Technologies
Technology advances in aerodynamics, more fuel-efficient turbine engines, and increased use of stronger and lighter materials are enabling aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to reduce fuel costs on their latest generation aircraft.
▲ Long-range projected growth in passenger and cargo air traffic will require the world's commercial aircraft fleet to add up to 33,500 new airplanes over the next 20 years.
(Boeing Current Market Outlook 2011-2030)Through its surface treatment technologies, Curtiss-Wright is supporting aircraft and turbine engine designers by enabling longer life and enhanced performance from metal alloys operating in harsh environments where they are subjected to fatigue, corrosion, heat, and wear.
Curtiss-Wright uses both traditional shot peening and its advanced laser peening process to strengthen key structural components of commercial airframes and turbine engines. Shot peening imparts a beneficial compressive stress to a metal surface, which improves its ability to resist metal fatigue. Shot peen forming is also used by Curtiss-Wright to shape the wing skins of various commercial aircraft.
Laser peening is a prime example of how Curtiss-Wright develops new technologies organically. It is used on extremely critical parts to impart a compressive stress at the surface that is four times deeper than that achievable from conventional shot peening. Laser peening accomplishes this by directing a controlled laser pulse with the instantaneous power output of a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant for a period of 20 billionths of a second onto the surface of a part. This advanced technology also has applications in forming selected wing skins on Boeing's newest 747-8 aircraft.
Additionally, our technical services portfolio includes the development and use of highly specialized coatings for aerospace applications. We apply critical thermal barrier coatings to components that operate in the very hottest sections of gas turbine engines, often at temperatures in excess of 2,000° F. Other specialized coatings for the aerospace industry include dry film lubricant coatings for fasteners, parylene conformal coatings for electronics, and environmentally friendly thermal spray coatings for landing gear and flight control components.
A recent addition to Curtiss-Wright's technical service capabilities is analytical services for failure analysis, as well as mechanical and chemical testing to ensure the integrity of the design and manufacturing processes for critical metal, ceramic, and composite components. Such testing is utilized in raw material selection and validation during the design phase and on-going quality assurance, process verification, and finished goods testing during the production phase.
Apart from aerospace applications, Curtiss-Wright's surface treatment technologies also protect components in other demanding markets, including power generation, oil and gas, ground transportation, and general industrial. Shot peening is applied to protect suspension, steering, and power train systems in passenger cars, construction vehicles, recreational vehicles, commercial trucking, and competitive racing. Specialized coatings are used to protect brake rotors, ball studs, fasteners, and stampings in automotive applications.
Most importantly, Curtiss-Wright continues to expand the use of its technologies in applications where performance and safety are essential. Advanced wear coatings such as tungsten carbides and chrome carbides present multiple opportunities for our coatings technology across a broad range of industries. We are using the experience gained in applying advanced thermal barrier coatings to flight turbine components to now support OEMs of industrial gas turbines with coatings for the control of wear, corrosion, oxidation, and solid particle erosion. Similarily, the application of laser peening has extended from its initial use on commercial flight turbine engines to the protection of industrial gas turbine airfoils from fretting wear and foreign object damage. The industrial gas turbine market is forecasting healthy growth due to the abundance of low-cost natural gas reserves around the world.
The outlook for Curtiss-Wright's growth in surface treatment technologies is strong, particularly in light of the projected increases in commercial aircraft production rates and continued recovery in the world economies. As a result, future opportunities abound for additional utilization of our value added technologies.