Surface engineering is the design and modification of the surface and substrate of an engineering material together as a system, to give cost effective performance of which neither is capable alone.
Benefits
Many engineering components need wear or corrosion resistant surfaces as well as tough, impact-resistant substrates. These requirements can be best met by using treatments that alter the surface properties without significantly modifying those of the core material. If these principles are applied correctly, surface engineering brings many benefits including:
- - Lower manufacturing costs
- - Reduced life cycle costs
- - Extended maintenance intervals
- - Enhanced recyclability of materials
- - Reduced environmental impact
Expertise
TWI has expertise in many surfacing technologies ranging from advanced thermal spray and laser processes to fusion welding and chemical coating techniques. TWI's team of experts offers technical support to industry, providing surface treatments and coatings from 1µm to 10mm thick.
TWI also co-ordinates expertise from its extensive network of contacts in surface engineering technologies that are non-core to TWI (e.g. electroplating, galvanising, anodising, engineering paints, vapour deposition processes, surface heat treatment and finishing) and is an active member of the Thermal Spraying and Surface Engineering Society (TSSEA).
TWI is playing a key role in establishing a surface engineering centre of excellence in Yorkshire - the Surface Engineering Group (SEG). SEG is run by the National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC) and brings together the expertise of TWI, Corus, The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University and covers a wide spectrum of coating processes and applications.
Track record
TWI has been actively involved in applications development and consultancy for all the main industry sectors including aerospace, automotive, biomedical, oil & gas, and power generation.
TWI has completed 6 Group Sponsored Projects on topics as diverse as thermally sprayed aluminium for protection of high strength stainless steels to HVOF coatings for mitigation of corrosion and wear; and evaluation of plasma electrolytic oxidation of light metal alloys.
In addition to increasing the durability of engineering components, TWI focuses on the technologies that comply with current and anticipated environmental, health and safety directives and legislation e.g.
- - Thermal spray alternatives to Cd-plating
- - Development of Pb-free thermal spray consumables for bearing applications
- - HVOF coatings for replacement of hard chrome plating
Contact: surfacing@twi.co.uk