Principal investigator: Calvin Li
University: Villanova University
Industry partner: Stein Seal Company
The Villanova team will partner with Stein Seal to investigate potential surface treatments for inhibiting aqueous corrosion product adhesion to a ceramic substrate (Silicon Nitride) seal manufactured at Stein Seal by a surface treatment to significantly improve the performance and durability of seals in extremely harsh working conditions. The proposed research will utilize a combined computational and experimental approach to investigate possible innovations in surface treatment that would decrease the adhesion of corrosion products by changing the electrical, chemical, and physical interactions between the surface and corrosion products. We will first investigate the nature of corrosion product uptake on the silicon nitride surface by a thorough exploration of the seal surface geometry and properties for corrosion species adhesion using the multi-physics code COMSOLTM. Based on the findings of simulations, we will experimentally investigate the potential surface treatments for inhibiting aqueous corrosion product adhesion for significant reduction of corrosion product adhesion.