Following extensive testing, Hardide-A coating has been approved for use on drag chute components for the F-35A conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant being manufactured by Lockheed Martin. For these specific components, Hardide-A is being used in place of high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spray coatings.
Hardide-A has been developed specifically to meet the needs of the aerospace industry and is an environmentally compliant and technically superior replacement for HVOF and hard chrome plating. The coating has demonstrated outstanding performance under corrosive conditions. This opens up applications in high load and corrosive conditions associated with several aircraft types.
Philip Kirkham, CEO of Hardide, commented: “Being selected for this new generation of aircraft is a great vote of confidence in Hardide and we look forward to further components being specified for Hardide coatings. This clearly demonstrates the progress that Hardide is making within the aerospace sector.”