Laser Cladding Services (LCS) has partnered with NASA to develop a laser coating technology breakthrough proven to increase component reliability in harsh environments for offshore applications.

For more than a decade, laser coating has been used to improve the wear resistance and performance of downhole oil and gas tools, but this new application of the technology equates to better protection of critical offshore components by significant reductions in abrasion and corrosion.

LCS has worked with NASA for a couple of years to cultivate specialized cladding projects for the rocket engine testing program at the Stennis Space Center (SSC) in Mississippi. Specifically, the coating technology was applied to a critical control valve seal on a rocket engine test stand. NASA previously used an oven-sintering process in an attempt to create a better seal for the valve that was exposed to extreme pressure and temperatures. The process was unreliable, not repairable, costly and time-consuming.

“The previous process often took three to five applications before the client was able to get an acceptable product. They needed a different coating methodology, and our technology proved to be the perfect solution,” said Andy Gates, LCS manager of engineering and technology. “After a series of tests and trials, LCS was successful in applying copper to a stainless steel substrate through laser cladding to create a durable and effective seal.”
Gates noted that the conditions and pressures for the SSC valve seal operated in far harsher conditions than an offshore critical component would, but the impact of costs are magnified when a component fails offshore due to all that is involved in repairing or replacing the component.

This new innovation can be applied to many critical offshore applications and any part, like choke and kill lines, ball bounce or hydraulic cylinder rods, exposed to corrosion or abrasion.

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