Landing Gear OEM Anticipated Approval of HVAF Fine Carbides for Alternative to Hard and Flash Chrome Plating

A major landing gear OEM has agreed to test the HVAF fine carbide technology to determine if indeed it can be a cost-effective alternative to HVOF and hard chrome plating. Since 2018, numerous tests have been performed to ensure the viability and repeatability of HVAF fine carbide coating technology. The evaluation is progressing well where final testing should be completed by fourth quarter 2022. Once completed, HVAF fine carbide coating technology will be dropped into the existing OEM HVOF landing gear coating specification as an effective alternative to HVOF and chrome plating.

HVOF carbide coating being the current coating alternative to chrome plating is only considered a temporary solution for REACH compliance and this is mainly due to the greatly higher coating costs versus traditional chrome plating. HVOF carbide coating will be displaced as soon as a more cost-effective technology obtains landing gear OEM approval.