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[December 2003]
New Wear Projects
Two new DTI-supported coatings research programmes have recently started at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), in Teddington, Middx, England. The first relates to the characterisation and performance measurement for thick coatings and is being carried in collaboration with TWI. The project will assist UK companies to use thick coatings more effectively in those sectors where mechanical strength and endurance are important. This will be achieved through the provision of new and improved methods for characterising the structure and properties of these coatings.
The second project aims to research the wear of materials and coatings under industrially relevant conditions. Wear-corrosion affects equipment as diverse as valves, pumps, downhole tooling, gun barrels and helicopter blades. It is expected that new DTI research being conducted by NPL and Southampton University into the measurement of materials degradation in conditions of combined wear and erosion will produce commercial benefits for a wide variety of industries.
For further information on either of these projects, e-mail Mark Gee at: mark.gee@npl.co.uk
ENDS