HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Big business 21st century style comes with the obvious mandates of increased production, quality and efficiency.

Now, that same mind set is being embraced by institutions that, while not having the typical bottom line to focus on for stock holders, have customers who demand top quality for their dollar just the same. Here at the Ogden Air Logistics Center, that means streamlining production and increasing efficiency by implementing some new-age technology. Advanced weapons systems require advanced technologies, so the center continually looks toward the future and acquiring new innovative technologies.

One such innovation the 309th Commodities Group is using is High Velocity Oxygen Fuel; used to apply metals, metal alloys and other compounds to worn aircraft parts, the new process is safer, more reliable and saves money.

“The process itself involves mixing a fuel, like kerosene, propane, hydrogen or natural gas, with oxygen and then igniting the mixture while powders made up of metals, alloys and other compounds are fed into a combustion chamber and melted,” said Hal Olmstead, chief of landing gear process engineering for the 309th CMXG. “The melted particles are then sprayed out of a gun at high velocity onto parts to be coated; when the hot particles hit the part they cool, re-crystallize and form a build up on the part.”

The technological improvement in coating worn parts is important since the current process is electroplated chromium. “This involves the use of hazardous chromium chemicals, in addition to the hazards of the chemicals in the plating tank, the plating process generates large volumes of hazardous fumes,” said Mr. Olmstead. “And those fumes have to be collected and scrubbed of all chromium through a regulated ventilation system. Chrome plating, along with most other plating operations, introduces elemental hydrogen into the steel, which leads to a phenomenon known as hydrogen embrittlement.”

Mr. Olmstead said that if the hydrogen is left in high strength steel parts, which makes up most landing gear parts, it will cause the steel to lose its expected strength and could lead to catastrophic failure if left unchecked. To prevent that from happening, parts are baked for various times – anywhere from four to 24 hours at 375 degrees Fahrenheit – to ensure all induced hydrogen is baked out.

He said, while the current HVOF system uses powders consisting of tungsten, cobalt, chromium and carbides, they’re in their metallic form when fed into the combustion chamber and return to their metallic form upon cooling, so only the dust generated needs to be collected and filtered. “This is much safer and easier to control than plating fumes,” he said. “Simply put, HVOF reduces the exposure and use of hazardous chemicals. And we’re able to replace chrome with a coating that is more durable and gives better wear-ability, which reduces overhaul costs and extends part life. It’s also easier for mechanics to use.”

By being able to create powders with metal and non-metal compounds, the coating can be engineered to produce the qualities maintainers are looking for – wear resistance, corrosion protection, ductility, and other desirable metallurgical properties. It’s also non-hydrogen embrittling, which eliminates risks and reduces the time it takes to process parts by reducing required bakes.

“Field tests have shown superior results compared to chrome plating,” said Mr. Olmstead. “And we’ll save in longer lasting parts needing less future overhaul repairs and savings in environmental costs associated with chrome plating.”