Lecture Series: Exhibitors Keynote

David Furrer, Pratt & Whitney

“Future Requirements for Advanced Surface Modification and Coatings Technologies for Turbine Engine Applications”

Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 11:00 a.m.

The evolution of engineered product designs and associated system requirements have given rise to increased challenges for materials and components. These challenges are in part being overcome through the development and application of surface-related technologies. Surfaces are critical features that drive the ultimate behavior, capabilities, and value of highly engineered components and systems. Surfaces provide for a means of protection for structural materials from extreme environmental conditions, such as elevated temperatures, corrosive and reactive materials, interfacial contact and loading, and erosion and wear. Turbine engine designs are continuing to evolve to meet the need for ever-increasing energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Traditional efforts of increasing turbine engine efficiency are aimed at increased core temperatures and increased thermodynamic efficiency. Architecture changes for future turbine engines are bringing new challenges from the introduction of new thermodynamic cycles, hybrid energy systems, and alternate fuels. These system-level design changes are increasing the need to advance surfaces to mitigate these new challenges and to support required component durability. A review of potential future system design changes and their potential impact on various materials and components will be reviewed. The requirements for advanced surface modification and coating technologies will be discussed in terms of future product-level requirements. In addition to the requirements for the surface modification or coating of components, the requirements for the manufacturing processes also need to be considered as we embrace and implement Industry-4.0 technologies.

Biography

Dr. David Furrer is the Senior Fellow Discipline Lead for the Materials and Processes Engineering Discipline within Pratt & Whitney. He is responsible for leading the Pratt & Whitney Materials Discipline Chiefs and Fellows in the development of technical strategies, and the development and evolution of engineering standard work for all processes within the discipline. David also supports new material and process design, development, and production transition programs, including efforts related to manufacturing, aftermarket, and service investigation initiatives. Additionally, Dr. Furrer oversees overall discipline health and critical skills identification. He is also involved with new and emerging manufacturing process development and transition into production, including such technologies as conventional and novel machining, coating, cleaning, casting, and additive manufacturing processes. He is the champion for the Pratt & Whitney materials and processes data management and analytics technical focus, and computational modeling tools and methods activities aimed at increasing the speed and fidelity of material and process development and definition.

He has over 30 years of experience in the areas of aerospace materials engineering, including forging manufacture, and materials and process modeling. In addition to previously working within the aerospace and forging industries, he has been an adjunct professor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, where he taught materials and manufacturing technology topics within the Mechanical Engineering Department.

He has received Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Doctorate of Engineering from the Universität Ulm, Ulm Germany.

Dr. Furrer is a Fellow and Past President of ASM-International, the materials information society, and is also a member of TMS and the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering.