Representative thermal spray systems at SURFTec, used to create coatings for demanding environments
Laser-rig for thermal cycle testing and evaluation of Thermal-Environmental Barrier Coatings (T-EBC) performance in actual thermal gradient setting
SURFTec industrial R&D group (SURFTec) is a multi-partner research initiative led by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) that focuses on addressing industry-driven needs for thermal spray technologies.
Thermal spray coatings are primarily used to protect underlying materials from harsh environments, such as those involving extreme temperatures, wear or corrosion.
In operation since 1995, SURFTec leads pre-competitive market-driven research and development (R&D) projects in 3 key areas:
- Advanced gas turbine coatings
- Bond coat engineering
- Environment barrier coatings (EBCs) for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs)
- Suspension plasma spray (SPS) of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs)
- Thermal and environmental barrier coatings (T/EBCs) for hydrogen fueled turbine engines
- High-performance protective coatings
- Development of internal diameter high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) and high velocity air fuel (HVAF) coatings
- Implementation of lean processing
- Repair of hard-to-access areas of industrial components
- Validation for landing gear, energy and mining applications
- Thermal spray 4.0
- Digitalization of thermal spray processes
- Process monitoring and control
These R&D projects aim to advance thermal spray technologies, while supporting cost reduction, process optimization, environment sustainability, and other near-term outcomes that drive business innovation for our industry participants.
Why join SURFTec?
Tapping into a multidisciplinary team of NRC experts, members will benefit from:
- De-risked, innovative and impactful solutions through pre-competitive projects
- High return on investment from their cash contributions
- Networking opportunities with peers from across the entire value chain
- Insights into the latest thermal spray technologies
- Access to the NRC's and its academic collaborators' background intellectual property (IP) and arising IP derived from pre-competitive projects
- Opportunities to validate their solutions against comparable or benchmark products in an unbiased environment using cutting-edge technologies and best-in-class expertise
- R&D projects defined through active consultation with participants
- A competitive edge in their field
- The ability to launch projects that advance IP for specific applications and/or explore particular needs to transform ideas into marketable products
Current SURFTec projects
- Engineering Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) for Gas Turbines Towards Sustainable Aviation & Power Generation
- Thermally Sprayed Functional High-entropy Allow (HEA) Coatings for Advanced Transport and Energy Applications
- Data-driven Air Plasma Spray (APS) Development for Prediction of Control Parameters Associated to In-Flight Particles Characteristics
- Protective and Functional Coatings and Overlays Using ID-HVOF/HVAF Spray Systems
- Ytterbium Disilicate (YbDS)-based Environmental Barrier Coatings (EBCs) for SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) – Maximizing Water Vapour Attack Resistance
- Sustainable Protective Coatings on the Inner Diameter of Landing Gear and Industrial Components for the Replacement of Hard Chrome (Cr VI) Plating: WC-Co-Cr and Beyond
Our participants
The industrial participants span the entire value chain, from equipment and feedstock suppliers to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), maintenance organizations, applicators and end users in the aerospace, industrial gas turbine, automotive, energy, mining, and oil and gas industries.
Industry participants
- Advanced Ceramic Coatings, LLC
- Baker-Hughes – Nuovo Pignone Tec
- CASL Surface Technologies / Kymera International
- Cincinnati Thermal Spray, Inc.
- Fisher Barton
- Flame Spray SpA
- North American Höganäs High Alloys, LLC.
- Honeywell International Inc.
- ITP Aero
- Liburdi Turbine Services, Inc.
- Linde Advanced Material Technologies
- Northwest Mettech Corp.
- Polycontrols Technologies Inc.
- Pratt & Whitney Corp.
- Rem-Tech Industries Inc.
- SprayWerx Technologies Inc.
- Tecnar Automation Ltée
- Treibacher Industrie AG
- Vac Aero International Inc.
Academic collaborators
- Concordia University
- École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS)
- Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
- McGill University
- University of Toronto
Major partners
- Canadian Space Agency
- Consortium de recherche et d’innovation en transformation métallique (CRITM)
How SURFTec works
- R&D projects are proposed and discussed with the industry participants
- R&D projects are conducted by the NRC and its research collaborators
- R&D results are presented in biannual meetings
- Industry participants have access to all project results and a license to use the intellectual property developed within the projects
- Intellectual property developed within the R&D group is protected and managed by the NRC to maximize competitive advantage for industry participants
Contact us
For more information about SURFTec and its current projects, contact:
David Fraser, Director, Business Development
Email: David.Fraser@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Maniya Aghasibeig, SURFTec Manager
Email: Maniya.Aghasibeig@cnrc-nrc.gc.ca
Telephone: 450-645-4221
Already a participant?
Contact us at: NRC.SURFTec-SURFTec.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Targeted industries
Aerospace, industrial gas turbines, oil and gas, mining, and automotive and transportation.