Military fighter

The world’s leading aviation defence companies entrust their products to Bodycote. We never forget that our customers have invested time, money and resources in all the components we process, which is why quality comes as a standard part of our services.

Landing gear

Critical landing gear must perform without fault every time the aircraft flies. The safety of the crew and the passengers depend on it. The nature and position of this critical component requires strength as well as wear and corrosion resistance to fulfill design requirements.

A combination of thermal processing techniques is used to ensure the materials’ desired characteristics are achieved. Heat treatment is performed to change the properties of the materials allowing the parts to endure their harsh punishment. Environmentally friendly thermal spray processes such as HVOF have superseded traditional coating methods to aid corrosion and wear resistance properties.

Typical treated parts include:

• Trunnion
• Beams
• Hydraulic lines
• Fittings
• Push-pull rods
• Shafts
• Fasteners

Engine

Engine turbine blades operate at high rotational speeds and must withstand extreme temperatures.  Coatings are also used to enhance anti-fretting, anti-galling and wear resistance.  Thermal processing typically includes stress relieving (after hard face welding), solution and age.

Turbine nozzle vanes are used to direct hot, expanding gases to the rotating turbine blades.  Coatings are used to protect the base material and produce the expected service life.  Thermal processing typically includes stress relieving, annealing, solution and age, and brazing of vane inserts and plenum covers.

Honeycomb seals are primarily used to prevent gas leakage between different stages of the turbine section.  The seal usually fits in close tolerance to a shroud ring (constructed of honeycomb material) mounted to the outer turbine case.  Vacuum brazing is used to join the seal to the ring, with Nickel alloy usually the braze alloy of choice.

• Front bearing housing
• Exhaust ducts
• LP turbine blades
• IP turbine blades
• HP turbine blades
• Turbine guide vane
• Aft fan case
• LPT stator
• Compressor assembly
• Main shaft
• Stub shafts
• Seals
• Bearings
• Air ducts
• Oil pipes
• Nozzle guide vanes
• Vane segments
  • Low pressure
  • High pressure
• Vane rings
• Turbine seal assemblies
• Turbine blade seals
• Shaft seals

Ejector seat

The ejector seat is a safety critical device for emergency use to ensure that the occupant on the seat is safely expelled from the aircraft. The thermally processed rocket tubes are a key part of the ejector seat process. These rocket tubes must contain the forces generated by the detonation of explosive charge, ensuring the released energy is focused where needed.

The necessary strength required by the rocket tube to withstand these explosive forces, is produced by hardening and tempering.

• Rocket tubes

Air frame

Air frame structural components are everything comprising the fuselage including:  doors, wing spars, flight control surfaces, ailerons, bulkheads, stringers, and wing panels.  Not only is the air frame subjected to the forces in flight but the impact loads associated with take-off and landing.

Corrosion resistant materials are used in areas where strength and resistance to the elements are mandatory. Aluminium and titanium are used in areas where strength and lightness is a priority.  Many titanium components are heat treated in vacuum furnaces.  Aluminium can be treated in vacuum or air atmosphere.

• Air frame
• Horizontal stabiliser
• Wing keel
• Fan duct
• Side body
• Hinge
• Engine nacelle
• Engine mount
• Cowling
• Door locks
• Rivets