Press Releases
MesoCoat Profiled as a top NASA Partner with the Most Compelling Technologies
January 12, 2011
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Jet Engine Turbine blades would benefit from advanced MesoCoat-NASA developed TBC’s |
MesoCoat’s Thermal Barrier Coating’s (TBC’s) developed in conjunction with the NASA Glenn Research Center have been featured in the Annual NASA Spinoff Magazine as one of the most compelling technological development of 2010. These TBC’s developed mainly for jet, gas, and turbine engines; reduce the thermal conductivity, which reduces the engine part temperature as well as smooth’s out thermal cycles, making them slower, much more uniform, and taking a lot of the thermal stresses off the engine parts. MesoCoat’s NASA-developed TBC promises to provide longer component life, improved fuel economy, and better operating efficiency for other commercial engine applications in the future, MesoCoat is also engaged in another NASA partnership that may soon provide similar lifespan-enhancing benefits to the Nation’s aging infrastructure.
NASA Glenn Research Center scientist Dongming Zhu performed groundbreaking work developing thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) that outperform other TBC technologies, providing an unrivaled means of protecting jet engines from the degrading effects of thermal stresses, prolonging their lifespans, and enhancing their reliability and fuel efficiency. Zhu’s breakthrough thermal and environmental barrier coating work was recognized by R&D Magazinein 2007 with an “R&D 100” award as one of the year’s 100 most technologically noteworthy inventions. Through a collaborative agreement with Glenn and under contract with the U.S. Air Force, MesoCoat is employing a specific composition of Zhu’s TBC technology to prolong the lifespan of engines in the Air Force’s aging, legacy aircraft. Since the commercial application is currently only for government use, no licensing agreement was required, though MesoCoat is engaged in discussions for commercial licensing terms. “It’s very difficult to get new parts for these older engines,” says Andrew Sherman (CEO, MesCoat Inc.), “so the Air Force needs new technologies to extend the life of components” such as combustor cans and afterburner nozzles. The company’s NASA-derived technology is providing an ideal, cost effective solution for this need. Branded ZComP 844, MesoCoat’s nanocomposite TBC has cluster formations that inhibit radiation transfer in the TBC and improves the coating’s stability, Sherman explains, so that it has about half of the thermal conductivity of conventional thermal barriers.
CRA Clad pipe for highly corrosive |
MesoCoat also has a Space Act Agreement with NASA which gives MesoCoat access to NASA Glenn facilities to operate the High Density Infrared (HDIR) arc lamp for the purpose of developing and validating metal and ceramic coating processing technologies to produce large area coated and clad components, such as, pipes, plates, extrusions, or sheets. Greg Engleman (CTO, MesoCoat Inc.) stated that “the NASA Glenn system is easily capable of cladding nickel based alloys to steel substrates, which are primarily used for extremely corrosive applications”. The article further mentions that “MesoCoat has developed a complete metal cladding system, called CermaClad™, that provides a quickly applicable, environmentally friendly, and cost effective method for extending the maintenance-free life of steel structures like oil and gas pipes, bridge beams, water pipes, and rebars. Employing inexpensive, inert nanocomposite cermet (ceramic and metallic) materials that are bonded to the metal surface using a HDIR arc lamp, CermaClad provides a cheaper, lighter, and nontoxic alternative to welded cladding methods and bioactive, carcinogenic materials like chromates. The resulting coating, which can be applied at rates 100 times faster than weld overlays, can prevent any degradation for periods up to 100 years. “It’s pretty much understood that we could solve the problem of deteriorating infrastructure if we wanted to. It’s a sheer economic issue,” Sherman says. “The real novelty of CermaClad is the productivity of it, which allows us to apply metal and ceramic coatings at the same rate you can spray paint today.”
About Abakan Inc.
Abakan invests in companies that develop transformational surface modification solutions and technologies. Current portfolio investments include two Ohio based companies, MesoCoat, Inc. and Powdermet Inc. MesoCoat is fast becoming a world leader in metal protection and repair through their “long life” cermet coatings and “high speed” metallurgical cladding technologies. MesoCoat’s solutions have already been the recipient of three prestigious R&D 100 awards, a Technology Innovation Program Award (TIP) for 100 year life coatings by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the NorTech Innovation Award for high performance environmentally friendly coating materials. Powdermet’s Nanomaterials Research and Manufacturing Center is the go-to-research center for US government agencies seeking expertise in high end ceramic and nanotechnology metal segments. They are currently developing two market solutions including next generation materials that have 3 to 5 times the strength and hardness of current metal alloys as well as light weight, energy absorbing materials.
Forward-Looking Statements
A number of statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties including technological obsolescence, market acceptance of future products, competitive market conditions, and the sufficiency of capital resources. The actual results Abakan may achieve could differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. Abakan encourages the public to read the information provided here in conjunction with its most recent filings on Form 10-K and Form 8-K. Abakan’s public filings may be viewed at www.sec.gov
Abakan Inc.
www.abakaninc.com
Robert Miller, Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (786) 206-5368
Email: [email protected]