Low Friction Cobalt-Based Coatings for Titanium Alloys

Protective coatings adapted for titanium alloys which come into frictional contact with one another are described. Among the many coatings investigated, the best ones are cobalt based. The coatings are sprayed only on one of the rubbing surfaces. During rubbing, a small part of the coating transfers to the unprotected titanium alloy surface. The rubbing pair is thus essentially composed of two cobalt alloy-based surfaces. This leads to low coefficient of friction and little or no damage to the rubbing surfaces. The coatings find particular application in the protection from adhesive and fretting wear, galling and seizure of gas turbine and jet engine parts or the like made from titanium alloys.