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What do fighter
jets, silicon chips, and plumbing fixtures have in common? All
incorporate precision surface engineering technology to stay
resistant under high-pressure situations. Assistance from the
NASA Glenn Research Center, located in Cleveland, Ohio, led to
the development of a new product for one of the world's largest
commercial plumbing manufacturers. Ohio-based Moen Incorporated
identified a market need for more durable polished brass plumbing
fixtures. NASA's Glenn Research Center is a leader in surface
coating technology, which enhances the physical properties of
a wide range of materials. The collaborative efforts of Glenn
and Moen resulted in a new polished brass finish called LifeShine.®
Previously,
polished brass was not popular in plumbing fixtures because of
the finish's short life span. Ordinarily, polished brass is soft,
corrodes easily, and is somewhat expensive. Although brass fixtures
are very attractive when new, they quickly lose luster and show
signs of tarnish, flaking, and discoloration.
NASA Glenn's
Electro-Physics Branch worked with Moen to identify, deposit,
and evaluate various abrasion and corrosion-resistant coatings.
This process allowed researchers to evaluate and visualize the
transition from the laboratory to commercial production; and
provided a significant advantage to Moen, avoiding dead ends
and costly mistakes that could have hindered the project's success.
Based on testing
results generated at NASA Glenn, Moen was able to manufacture
an affordable, polished brass finish that is as durable as chrome,
and resists deterioration. LifeShine is guaranteed to resist
normal wear and tear and is even scratch-resistant to cleaning
products as abrasive as steel wool.
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Monticello® Inspirations® Cathedral®
Spout Copper Kitchen Faucet and Copper Liquid Dispenser in LifeShine® Copper. |
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With further
development, Moen was able to incorporate other colors into the
LifeShine finish technology including classic gold, nickel, SatineTM,
Black OpalTM, stainless, and copper. In an effort
to improve the quality of its new technology, the company added
titanium to LifeShine, making the finish even stronger and increasing
its already superior durability. Highly resistant to salt and
humidity, the LifeShine finish will remain intact even when the
fixture is dented.
The partnership
between NASA and Moen resulted in the elimination of costly development
efforts for Moen. The use of NASA facilities and the participation
of NASA researchers, allowed Moen to avoid significant research
costs and delays in the development of its new product line.
According to Tim O'Brien, Vice President of Technology for Moen, "NASA assistance helped our company increase market share
at a time when foreign competitors were knocking at the door." LifeShine
was awarded the 2000 ASM International, Engineering Materials Achievement
Award, recognizing Moen's outstanding developments in the application
of materials in products.
LifeShine® is a registered trademark
of Moen, Inc.
Monticello® is a registered trademark of Moen, Inc.
Cathedral® is a registered trademark of Moen, Inc.
PureTouch® is a registered trademark of Moen, Inc.
Black Opal™ is a trademark of Moen, Inc.
Satine™ is a trademark of Moen, Inc.
AquaSuite™ is a trademark of Moen, Inc.
Inspirations™ is a trademark of Moen, Inc.
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