Dimensional Restoration of High-Valued Military Components Using Kinetic MetallizationTM

The Navy has a critical need to repair high-value aircraft components damaged by wear, corrosion or mechanical abrasion to reduce maintenance cost and schedules. This need applies to aircraft components on the F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G platforms and to submarine and ship subsystem components. Worn or failed components are scrapped and expensive new parts procured, with excessively long lead times. A cost-effective technology is needed to restore expensive high-valued military components. Kinetic Metallization ^TM (KM) is a low temperature, spray deposition process and tool for performing dimensional restoration repairs of aluminum, magnesium, bronze, and high-strength steel alloy components, which does not degrade the inherent material properties of part. This paper will review military components dimensionally restored with the KM process and present the qualification tests performed for these repairs.