Story ID: 
Chromalloy Coating Enhances Engine Performance
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: Chromalloy is offering a new thermal barrier coating it claims enhances the performance of gas turbine engines.
Word Count: 172
Chromalloy is offering a new thermal barrier coating it claims enhances the performance of gas turbine engines. "The RT-35 Low K coating provides lower thermal conductivity, which allows higher engine temperatures. Engines produce greater thrust when operating at higher temperatures and they can operate on the same amount of fuel as powerplants that operate at lower temperatures," said Dr. Peter Howard, vice president of technology and quality assurance. The FAA has certified the coating for use on PW4000 second-stage, high-pressure turbine blades. The PW4000 powers the Airbus A300, A310 and A330 and the Boeing 747-400, 767, 777 and (McDonnell Douglas) MD-11. Dr. Ravi Shankar, director of qualification engineering and standards, told AIN, "The technology is being migrated to high-pressure turbine blades and vanes on other advanced engines that power large commercial aircraft but there is no plan for application of the coating on business jet engines. New PW4000s use the original equipment manufacturer materials and technologies. We’re applying it during the repair cycle to engines already in service.”