MATE program: Erosion resistant compressor airfoil coating, volume 2

The performance of candidate erosion resistant airfoil coatings installed in ground tested experimental JT8D and JT9D engines and subjected to cyclic endurance at idle, takeoff and intermediate power conditions has been evaluated. Engine tests were terminated prior to the scheduled 1000 cycles of endurance test due to high cycle fatigue fracture of the Gator-Gard plasma sprayed 88WC-12Co coating on titanium alloy airfoils. Coated steel (AMS5616) and nickel base alloy (Incoloy 901) performed well in both engine tests. Post test airfoil analyses consisted of binocular, scanning electron microscope and metallographic examinations.