HVOF thermal spraying solutions for chrome plating replacement in aerospace
Historically, aerospace manufacturers have utilised hexavalent hard chrome and nickel plating for flight critical applications. As the industry moves away from chrome, replacing it with aluminium through a High-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spraying process is considered the most viable, effective and efficient solution.
HVOF is an established thermal spraying process within the Aerospace sector, supporting manufacturing processes for landing gears, inner cylinders, pins, hydraulic rods, components, actuators, GTE’s and propeller hubs.
HVOF using aluminium powder provides Aerospace manufacturers with improved performance in comparison to hard chrome plating, less wear and leakage, corrosion resistance plus is considered more environmentally friendly.
BOC’s technological developments and expertise can support manufacturers in the application of high-velocity oxy-fuel and plasma spraying through both specially shaped nozzle attachments and world-class Kerosene, Acetylene and Propane thermal spraying gases and gas mixtures.
Further development of high-velocity thermal spray methods has led to cold gas spraying where the surface material is propelled and plasticised, hitting the substrate and thus forming the combination with the basic material. This procedure is similar to explosion welding.