SAFRAN PCS Test and Review

SAFRAN, a French multinational aerospace, defense, and security company headquartered in Paris, designs, develops, and manufactures commercial and military aircraft engines, launch vehicles, spacecraft, and missile propulsion systems, as well as various aerospace and military equipment and devices. It also develops standards in this field. Some of these standards include:

• The PCS-3600 standard is an internal process specification that outlines procedures for performing nital etch inspection on high-strength steel components. This nondestructive testing (NDT) method is used to detect surface fracture defects, such as cracks or grinding burns, that could compromise the structural integrity of aerospace components.

The purpose of this standard is to ensure consistency and reliability across inspections. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria necessary to identify defects that could compromise the safety and performance of aircraft components.

This standard defines the process for conducting nital abrasion inspections, a method that reveals surface and near-surface discontinuities such as cracks, laps, and other defects in ferromagnetic materials.

The key elements of this standard are:

• Etching process: Using a solution of usually 3-5 percent nitric acid in alcohol, it etchs the metal surface and makes defects visible.
• Inspection criteria: Defines acceptable and unacceptable wear indicators and provides guidance on defect identification and evaluation.
• Quality control measures: Specifies requirements for inspection conditions such as lighting intensity (minimum 2153 lux) and mandates the use of calibrated equipment to ensure consistent and reliable inspections.
• Documentation: Emphasizes the importance of recording processing parameters and inspection results for traceability and compliance.

Compliance with this standard is crucial for detecting potential failures before they jeopardize aircraft safety. By providing a standardized inspection method, it helps maintenance personnel identify and address material defects early, thereby improving the reliability and safety of aviation components.

• The PCS-3601 standard is an internal process specification that outlines procedures for conducting ferroxyl and copper sulfate tests. These tests are non-destructive testing (NDT) methods used to detect surface defects such as iron contamination and free iron in stainless steel components. These tests are crucial in the aerospace industry for ensuring the integrity and corrosion resistance of critical components, particularly in landing gear systems.

The key elements of this standard are:

• Feroxyl test: This test determines the presence of free iron, which can cause corrosion on stainless steel surfaces. A positive reaction indicates contamination that needs to be addressed. The purpose of this test is to check the integrity of the passive layer on the stainless steel surface and ensure the complete absence of free iron and iron oxide.
• Copper sulfate testing: This method detects iron contamination in nonferrous materials. The presence of iron is revealed by a copper deposit in the test area, indicating the need for cleaning or repassivation.

Compliance with this standard ensures that aerospace components meet stringent quality and safety standards, maintaining their performance and service life.

• The PCS-3800 standard is an internal process specification that outlines procedures for conducting ferroxyl and copper sulfate tests. These non-destructive testing (NDT) methods are used to detect surface defects, such as cracks or porosity, in metallic components, particularly those used in landing gear assemblies.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for performing ferroxyl and copper sulfate tests, ensuring consistency and reliability across applications. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria necessary to effectively identify and evaluate surface discontinuities.

• The PCS-3200 standard is an internal process specification that details procedures for fluorescent penetrant inspection, a non-destructive testing method used to detect surface fracture defects such as cracks, porosity, and laps in metal components.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for conducting fluorescent penetrant inspections, ensuring consistency and reliability across applications. It specifies sensitivity levels, application methods, inspection techniques, and acceptance criteria for evaluating indications. This specification is particularly critical for inspecting aerospace components, such as landing gear components, where structural integrity is paramount.

• The PCS-3100 standard is an internal process specification that outlines procedures for magnetic particle inspection. Magnetic particle inspection is a nondestructive testing (NDT) method used to detect surface and near-surface discontinuities, such as cracks or inclusions, in ferromagnetic materials.

This standard provides detailed guidelines for performing magnetic particle inspection, ensuring consistency and reliability between inspections. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria necessary to identify defects that could compromise the structural integrity of aerospace components.

This standard is an integral part of Safran's maintenance and overhaul procedures, particularly for components such as landing gear components. For example, service bulletins and maintenance documentation reference this standard when specifying inspection steps. Such inspections are critical during overhauls of components such as universal joints and slide tubes, ensuring that potential defects are identified and corrected before the parts are returned to service.

• The PCS-3700 standard is an internal process specification that outlines procedures for performing Barkhausen noise inspection. Barkhausen noise inspection is a nondestructive testing (NDT) method used to detect surface and near-surface defects in ferromagnetic materials, such as cracks or inclusions, by analyzing the magnetic noise emitted when a magnetic field is applied.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for conducting Barkhausen noise inspections, ensuring consistency and reliability across inspections. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria necessary to identify defects that could compromise the structural integrity of aerospace components.

• The PCS-2302 standard is an internal process specification outlining rotary flap peening procedures, commonly known as flapper peening. This is a specialized flux peening technique used to improve the fatigue resistance of aerospace components, particularly those made of high-strength steel.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for performing rotary flap peening, ensuring consistency and reliability across applications. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria necessary to achieve the desired surface properties.

Flapper peening is a form of shot peening in which a rotating flapper tool strikes the surface of a component with high-velocity abrasive particles. This process creates compressive residual stresses in the surface, helping to:

• Improving fatigue life
• Reducing the risk of stress corrosion cracking
• Increasing the overall durability of the part

Flapper peening is particularly effective for components with complex geometries or components that are difficult to machine with traditional shot peening methods.

• The PCS-2220 standard is an internal process specification outlining procedures for chemical conversion coating of aluminum alloys. This process, commonly known as Alocrom or Alodine, is used to improve corrosion resistance and provide a suitable base for subsequent coatings on aluminum components.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for performing chemical conversion coatings on aluminum alloys, ensuring consistency and reliability across applications. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria necessary to achieve the desired coating properties.

• The PCS-2131 standard is an internal process specification that outlines procedures for local brush cadmium plating on steel components. This process is typically applied in areas where full immersion cadmium plating is impractical, such as in repair scenarios or when dealing with geometrically complex parts.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for performing local brush cadmium plating, ensuring consistency and reliability across applications. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria necessary to achieve the desired plating properties.

• The PCS-2141 standard is an internal process specification outlining procedures for low hydrogen embrittlement brush cadmium coating on steel components. This process is typically applied to aerospace parts requiring corrosion protection, such as landing gear components. Where traditional cadmium coating methods may not be applicable due to part geometry or susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for performing low-hydrogen embrittlement brush cadmium coatings, ensuring consistency and reliability across applications. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria necessary to achieve the desired coating properties while minimizing the risk of hydrogen embrittlement, which can compromise the structural integrity of high-strength steel parts.

• The PCS-2550 standard is an internal process specification that outlines procedures for applying Ipcote 9183-R1, a high-performance sacrificial aluminum coating. This coating is used to protect aerospace components, such as landing gear and landing gear components, from corrosion and high-temperature oxidation.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for applying IPCOTE 9183-R1, ensuring consistency and reliability across applications. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria necessary to achieve the desired coating properties.

Ipcote 9183-R1 is a high-temperature, sacrificial aluminum coating. It is designed to provide corrosion and oxidation protection for metallic substrates such as iron, steel, heat-treated stainless steel alloys, and titanium in extreme environments such as aircraft engines, gas turbines, power generation, and marine applications. The coating can withstand temperatures up to 700°C (1400°F) and is commonly applied to components such as turbine blades, rotors, shafts, and landing gear to protect against salt-laden atmospheres, high-temperature oxidation, chemicals, and corrosives.

• The PCS-2500 standard is an internal process specification that outlines procedures for applying polyurethane topcoats to aerospace components, particularly landing gear assemblies. This specification ensures consistent application of protective coatings, contributing to the durability and corrosion resistance of critical aircraft components.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for applying a polyurethane topcoat to components made of materials such as aluminum. The specification details the application process, including surface preparation, coating techniques, and curing procedures to achieve a smooth, durable finish.

• The PCS-2530 standard is an internal process specification that outlines procedures for applying low-VOC polyurethane topcoats to aerospace components, particularly landing gear assemblies. This specification ensures consistent application of protective coatings, contributing to the durability and corrosion resistance of critical aircraft parts.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for applying a polyurethane topcoat, ensuring consistency and reliability across applications. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria necessary to achieve the desired coating properties.

• The PCS-7204 standard is an internal process specification that outlines procedures for applying topcoat paint to aerospace components, particularly landing gear assemblies. This specification ensures consistent application of protective coatings, contributing to the durability and corrosion resistance of critical aircraft components.

This standard provides standardized guidelines for topcoat application, ensuring consistency and reliability across applications. It specifies the techniques, equipment settings, and acceptance criteria required to achieve the desired coating properties.

Our organization, which has been supporting businesses across all sectors for years through a wide range of testing, measurement, analysis, and evaluation activities, has a strong team of employees who closely follow global developments in science and technology and are constantly improving themselves. In this context, we also provide SAFRAN PCS testing and inspection services to businesses.