Cold Spray Action Team News
June 19 - 20, 2018
There are a number of ongoing RDT&E Cold Spray programs under way across the world, and service providers are beginning to offer Cold Spray processes for production and overhaul. As we found with thermal spray, Cold Spray technology will move into the marketplace much more quickly and smoothly if users, spray shops, equipment, and powder suppliers work together and share information, develop the engineering data, and match the technology to the best applications. CSAT has provided the means by which this exchange can take place in a setting that encourages discussion and debate.
Questions, comments and ideas are encouraged. We want to ensure that we incorporate different ideas, needs and viewpoints to make the team as useful and successful as possible.
This past year has seen an unprecedented level of activity in Cold Spray Technology throughout the Department of Defense and the aerospace industry. Additional applications of cold spray have been approved, and over the last year, there has been several advancements in aluminum alloy development that can be considered a breakthrough for cold spray. There have been numerous DoD Programs funded in Cold Spray including the Army and Air Force Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF), Toxic Metal Reduction, Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, and Manufacturing Technology Programs. Academic institutions and private industrial partners of ARL have augmented this research which has helped to advance the state of the art. ARL and RUAG, Australia (formerly Rosebank Engineering) , are working together as part of a cooperative research agreement. RUAG is an established leading provider of MRO services (maintenance, repair and overhaul) for military aircraft in Australia, in support of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian DMO (Defense Materiel Organization) as well as many other leading defense companies.
There are many ARL industry partners who are willing to share cold spray the results of their research with the CSAT community and include, RUAG, MOOG, Westinghouse, Boeing, Sikorsky Aircraft Company, VRC Metal Systems, and the United Technologies Research Center. These collaborations and open exchange continue to make CSAT a great success.
ARL continues to lead Cold Spray Technology through research development and transition programs and this year plans to introduce a Cold Spray Manufacturing Cell that is equipped with helium recovery. This system is proposed to be ready for demonstration this year at CSAT and should prove to be a major breakthrough in reducing the costs associated with cold spray processes using helium.
The CSAT is committed to improve Cold Spray transition involving the introduction of advancements in cold spray processes, equipment, inspection methods and standards into DoD depot maintenance activities and for the industrial base. CSAT will continue to work with Program Managers and Cognizant Engineering Authorities to develop ways to better leverage technology and process improvements in Cold Spray Technology through collaboration to support the higher DoD goals of improving effectiveness and efficiency that will have widespread applicability across all sectors of industry.
Regards, Vic Champagne
Partnership paying off for B-1's, Mines and Ellsworth (offsite link)
2013 Cold Spray Award (pdf)
US Department of Defense, Manufacturing Technology Program Award 2013 (offsite link)
ASM Fellow Award 2015
Mr. Victor K. Champagne, FASM
Leader of ARL Center for Cold Spray
US Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen MD
"Serving as the International Champion of Cold Spray Technology through
exemplary research, development, qualification and persistent dedication
toward the transition and implementation throughout all sectors of industry
and the DoD." (pdf or offsite link)
ESTCP Program of the Year Award 2013
Supersonic Particle Deposition for Repair of Magnesium Aircraft Components