Lambda Technologies awarded contract to improve the fatigue life of components found on the V-22 Osprey.

Cincinnati, Ohio – August 16, 2007, – Surface Enhancement Technologies (SET), a division of Lambda Technologies, has been awarded a Phase II SBIR contract from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), to improve the fatigue life of select, dynamic rotorcraft components found on the V-22 Osprey by implementing their patented Low Plasticity Burnishing (LPB) process.

Working in partnership with subcontractor, Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., SET will showcase it’s surface treatment prowess by developing a program to enhance the V-22’s fatigue critical components while surpassing conventional and limited surface treatments, such as shot peening. SET’s scope of services range from the testing of the metal component’s base material to conducting the cost-benefit analysis necessary to smoothly transition the LPB processing of the components into production.

Entering active service in 2000, the V-22 Osprey is deployed by all four branches of the U.S. armed services as a medium lift, multi-mission, vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft. The V-22’s tilt-rotor allows it to take off and land like a helicopter, but once airborne, its’ engine nacelles rotate 90 degrees forward converting the Osprey into a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight.

The V-22’s dynamic rotorcraft components are manufactured from alloys chosen for their high strength, high fracture toughness, and resistance to stress corrosion cracking (SCC). SET’s program will focus on improving the fatigue life of these components by implementing their patented LPB surface treatment process.

LPB is being viewed by many in the engineering and military arenas as the distinct solution to improving fatigue life and damage tolerance of aircraft structural components by imparting a deep layer of high magnitude compressive residual stress (RS) to mitigate degradation processes in the fatigue prone areas of expensive and critical aircraft components such as landing gear, propeller hubs, and turbine engine blades.

To discover how implementing LPB into your process will improve component performance, or to download any of Lambda’s LPB Application Notes, visit www.lambdatechs.com and navigate to the “Discover LPB” web page.

Lambda Technologies is an innovative company incorporating a premier materials research laboratory with a world-class engineering and production enterprise dedicated to the development and optimization of surface treatments to improve component performance. For additional information on Lambda Technologies or licensing the LPB process, contact Brian C. Murphy at (513) 561-0883 or visit www.lambdatechs.com.