Development of New Cavitation-Resistant Coatings

Cavitation damage on hydro-turbines, pumps, and valves leads to costly repairs and downtime. While stainless steel weld overlays are commonly used, combining them with cavitation-resistant coatings can reduce galvanic corrosion and extend service life. This article presents the development of a novel polyurethane elastomer formulation designed to outperform existing commercial coatings. Laboratory testing showed that one formulation, F-3C, demonstrated cavitation resistance over four times greater than the best commercial products and 100 times better than most available coatings. These results suggest potential for use in moderate to severe cavitation environments, with field trials under way to validate long-term performance.