MAST AND EXPOSED GEARS ARE ZINC-HIGH-NICKEL PLATED FOR GREATER ABRASION AND/OR CORROSION RESISTANCE
A rotorcraft component protected from abrasion or corrosion includes the rotorcraft component and a zinc-nickel coating on at least a portion of a surface of the rotorcraft component, wherein the zinc-nickel coating protects the portion of the surface of the rotorcraft component from abrasion or corrosion. The rotorcraft component is a main rotor mast, a tail rotor mast, a gear, a main rotor gearbox, or one or more gears in an accessory gearbox, a reduction gearbox, an intermediate gearbox, or a tail rotor gearbox.
1 . A rotorcraft component protected from abrasion or corrosion, comprising:
the rotorcraft component; and
a zinc-nickel coating on at least a portion of a surface of the rotorcraft component, wherein the zinc-nickel coating protects the portion of the surface of the rotorcraft component from abrasion or corrosion.
2 . The rotorcraft component of claim 1 , wherein the zinc-nickel coating has a high nickel content, wherein a nickel content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 12 to 18%.
3 . The rotorcraft component of claim 1 , wherein a nickel content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 15 to 18%.
4 . The rotorcraft component of claim 1 , wherein a nickel content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 18%.
5 . The rotorcraft component of claim 1 , wherein a zinc content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 3 to 8%.
6 . The rotorcraft component of claim 1 , wherein the rotorcraft component is a main rotor mast, a tail rotor mast, a gear, a main rotor gearbox, or one or more gears in an accessory gearbox, a reduction gearbox, an intermediate gearbox, or a tail rotor gearbox.
7 . A method of protecting a rotorcraft component from abrasion or corrosion, comprising:
providing the rotorcraft component; and
coating at least a portion of a surface of the rotorcraft component with a zinc-nickel coating.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the zinc-nickel coating has a high nickel content, wherein a nickel content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 12 to 18%.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein a nickel content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 15-18%.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein a nickel content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 18%.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein a zinc content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 3 to 8%.
12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the rotorcraft component is a main rotor mast, a tail rotor mast, a gear, a main rotor gearbox, or one or more gears in an accessory gearbox, a reduction gearbox, an intermediate gearbox, or a tail rotor gearbox.
13 . A rotorcraft, comprising:
a fuselage;
one or more engines coupled to the fuselage; and
a component coupled to the one or more engines, comprising a zinc-nickel coating on at least a portion of a surface of the component, wherein the zinc-nickel coating protects the portion of the surface of the component from abrasion or corrosion.
14 . The rotorcraft of claim 13 , wherein the zinc-nickel coating has a high nickel content, wherein a nickel content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 12 to 18%.
15 . The rotorcraft of claim 13 , wherein a nickel content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 15-18%.
16 . The rotorcraft of claim 13 , wherein a nickel content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 18%.
17 . The rotorcraft of claim 13 , wherein a zinc content of the zinc-nickel coating is about 3 to 8%.
18 . The rotorcraft of claim 13 , wherein the component is a main rotor mast, a tail rotor mast, a gear, a main rotor gearbox, or one or more gears in an accessory gearbox, a reduction gearbox, an intermediate gearbox, or a tail rotor gearbox.