Improvement of the Corrosion Resistance of Turbine Engine Bearings

Abstract : This technical report encompasses the work accomplished in the first phase of a two-phase program aimed at developing an alternate material, fabrication technique, or material treatment for turbine engine mainshaft bearings with improved corrosion resistance compared to state of the art VIM-VAR M50. During Phase 1, five corrosion-resistant bearing candidates (armoloy-coated M50, nickel sputter-coated M50, wrought CRB7, RSR565 and MRC2001) identified as the most promising were subjected to rolling contact fatigue, corrosion, hot hardness and wear screening tests. The phase concluded with selection of MCR2001 as the single most promising candidate for full-scale bearing fabrication and testing. In Phase 2 that candidate will be subjected to further full-scale bearing life and performance tests and a corrosion-resistant verification test.