Abstract: A gas turbine component for use in a gas turbine engine includes a substrate a ceramic-based thermal barrier coating (TBC), and a diffusion chromide bond coat between the base material and the TBC. A thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer can be formed on the bond coat prior to application of the TBC. The TBC and the TGO include a common metal oxide. The oxide can be sacrificially in use and soluble in a molten sulfate salt, make the coating system particularly suitable for use in a marine environment.

Abstract: A gas turbine component for use in a gas turbine engine includes a substrate and a non-aluminide protective coating with a platinum-group metal. The platinum-group metal resides in a gamma-prime phase of the underlying material. The platinum-group metal can impart the protective coating with superior corrosion-resistance, while the absence of aluminide in the protective coating facilitates use of the protective coating at high-stress and/or high-fatigue portions of the component. The protective coating optionally includes chromide and can also be combined with aluminide at select portions of the component.

Abstract: Turbine airfoil components with protective layers and methods therefore. The components are each formed to have a platform, an airfoil extending upwardly from the platform, and a shank extending downwardly from the platform. The shank has an exterior wall and an internal passage, and the airfoil has a cooling flow channel inside the airfoil for flowing a cooling flow therethrough. The component has an interior chromide coating contacting at least a portion of an interior surface of the shank and interdiffused with a base metal thereof, and an exterior chromide coating contacting at least a portion of an exterior surface of the shank and interdiffused with the base metal thereof. The interior and exterior chromide coatings do not have an aluminide coating deposited thereon.

Abstract: A gas turbine component for use in a gas turbine engine includes a substrate and a non-aluminide protective coating with a platinum-group metal. The platinum-group metal resides in a gamma-prime phase of the underlying material. The platinum-group metal can impart the protective coating with superior corrosion-resistance, while the absence of aluminide in the protective coating facilitates use of the protective coating at high-stress and/or high-fatigue portions of the component. The protective coating optionally includes chromide and can also be combined with aluminide at select portions of the component.

Abstract: Coated superalloy article includes a bond coat comprising an inner bond coat layer disposed on the first surface being formed by deposition of a bond coat composition comprising, in weight percent, 14-20% Cr, 5-8% Al, 8-12% Co, 3-7% Ta, 0.1-0.6% Hf, 0.1-0.5% Y, up to about 1% Si, 0.005-0.020% Zr, 0.04-0.08% C, 0.01-0.02% B, with a remainder including nickel (Ni) and incidental impurities, wherein the bond coating composition is substantially free of rhenium. An aluminum-containing layer overlies the inner bond coat layer. Optionally, a thermal barrier coating overlies the aluminum-containing layer, wherein the thermal barrier coating, if present, is formed by deposition of a thermal barrier coating composition.

Abstract: Methods for coating a substrate includes depositing on the substrate, a inner bond coat layer of a bond coat composition comprising, in weight percent, 14-20% Cr, 5-8% Al, 8-12% Co, 3-7% Ta, 0.1-0.6% Hf, 0.1-0.5% Y, up to about 1% Si, 0.005-0.020% Zr, 0.04-0.08% C, 0.01-0.02% B, with a remainder including nickel (Ni) and incidental impurities, wherein the bond coat composition is substantially free of rhenium; forming an aluminum-containing layer overlying the inner bond coat layer; and, optionally, depositing a thermal barrier coating composition overlying the aluminum-containing layer.

Abstract: Coating system for a metallic substrate includes a strengthened bond coat including a bond coat inner layer and an aluminum-containing layer overlying the bond coat inner layer. The bond coat inner layer is formed by deposition of a bond coat composition including, in weight percent, 14-20% Cr, 5-8% Al, 8-12% Co, 3-7% Ta, 0.1-0.6% Hf, 0.1-0.5% Y, up to about 1% Si, 0.005-0.020% Zr, 0.04-0.08% C, 0.01-0.02% B, with a remainder including Ni and incidental impurities, wherein the bond coat composition is substantially free of rhenium. The coating system includes an optional thermal barrier coating which may be a yttria-stabilized zirconia.

Abstract: A gas turbine blade comprises a base metal, a platform, an airfoil extending upwardly from the platform, a shank extending downwardly from the platform. The shank has an exterior wall and an internal passage, and the airfoil has a cooling flow channel inside the airfoil for flowing a cooling flow therethrough. The blade has a first chromide coating contacting the base metal of at least a portion of an interior surface of the shank and interdiffused therewith, wherein the first chromide coating does not have an aluminide coating deposited over it. The blade has a second chromide coating contacting the base metal of at least a portion of an interior surface of the airfoil and interdiffused therewith. A method for preparing a gas turbine blade comprises the steps of applying chromide coatings, sealing the interior passages of the shank and airfoil and applying an aluminide or platinum aluminide coating and an optional ceramic layer on the airfoil.

Abstract: A coating process and TBC system suitable for protecting the surface of a component subjected to a hostile thermal environment. The TBC system has a first layer with a columnar microstructure, and a second layer on the first layer and with a microstructure characterized by irregular flattened grains. According to one aspect, the first layer is present and the second layer is not present on a first surface portion of the component, and the first and second layers are both present on a second surface portion of the component. According to another aspect, the first and second layers contain the same base ceramic compound.

Abstract: An intermetallic composition suitable for use as an environmentally-protective coating on surfaces of components used in hostile thermal environments, including the turbine, combustor and augmentor sections of a gas turbine engine. The coating contains the gamma-prime (Ni3Al) nickel aluminide intermetallic phase and either the beta (NiAl) nickel aluminide intermetallic phase or the gamma solid solution phase. The coating has an average aluminum content of 14 to 30 atomic percent and an average platinum-group metal content of at least 1 to less than 10 atomic percent, the balance of the coating being nickel, incidental impurities, and optionally hafnium.

Abstract: An intermetallic composition suitable for use as an environmentally-protective coating on surfaces of components used in hostile thermal environments, including the turbine, combustor and augmentor sections of a gas turbine engine. The coating contains the gamma-prime (Ni3Al) nickel aluminide intermetallic phase and either the beta (NiAl) nickel aluminide intermetallic phase or the gamma solid solution phase. The coating has an average aluminum content of 14 to 30 atomic percent and an average platinum-group metal content of at least 1 to less than 10 atomic percent, the balance of the coating being nickel, one or more of chromium, silicon, tantalum, and cobalt, optionally one or more of hafnium, yttrium, zirconium, lanthanum, and cerium, and incidental impurities.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating, or TBC, and method for forming the TBC. The TBC is formed of a thermal-insulating material that contains yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) alloyed with at least a third oxide. The TBC is formed to also contain elemental carbon, and may potentially contain carbides and/or a carbon-containing gas that forms from the thermal decomposition of carbon. The TBC is characterized by lower density and thermal conductivity, high temperature stability and improved mechanical properties. To exhibit the desired effect, the third oxide is more particularly one that increases the lattice strain energy of the TBC microstructure as a result of having an ion size that is sufficiently different than a zirconium ion.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating (TBC 26) and method for forming the TBC (26) on a component (10) characterized by a stabilized microstructure that resists grain growth, sintering and pore coarsening or coalescence during high temperature excursions. The TBC (26) contains elemental carbon and/or a carbon-containing gas that increase the amount of porosity (32) initially within the TBC (26) and form additional fine closed porosity (32) within the TBC (26) during subsequent exposures to high temperatures. A first method involves incorporating elemental carbon precipitates by evaporation into the TBC microstructure. A second method is to directly incorporate an insoluble gas, such as a carbon-containing gas, into an as-deposited TBC (26) and then partially sinter the TBC (26) to entrap the gas and produce fine stable porosity within the TBC (26).

Abstract: An electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) apparatus for producing a coating material (e.g., a ceramic thermal barrier coating) on an article. The EBPVD apparatus generally includes a coating chamber that is operable at elevated temperatures and subatmospheric pressures. An electron beam gun projects an electron beam into the coating chamber through an aperture in a wall of the chamber and onto a coating material within a coating region defined within the chamber, causing the coating material to melt and evaporate. An article is supported within the coating chamber so that vapors of the coating material deposit on the article. The operation of the EBPVD apparatus is enhanced by the inclusion within the coating chamber of a second chamber that encloses the aperture so as to separate the aperture from the coating region. The second chamber is maintained at a pressure lower than the coating region.

Abstract: An electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) apparatus and a method for using the apparatus to produce a coating material (e.g., a ceramic thermal barrier coating) on an article. The EBPVD apparatus generally includes a coating chamber that is operable at elevated temperatures and subatmospheric pressures. An electron beam gun projects an electron beam into the coating chamber and onto a coating material within the chamber, causing the coating material to melt and evaporate. An article is supported within the coating chamber so that vapors of the coating material deposit on the article. The operation of the EBPVD apparatus is enhanced by the inclusion or adaptation of one or more mechanical and/or process modifications, including those necessary or beneficial when operating the apparatus at coating pressures above 0.010 mbar.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating, or TBC (26), and method for forming the TBC (26). The TBC (26) is formed of a thermal-insulating material that contains yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) alloyed with at least a third oxide. The TBC (26) is formed to also contain elemental carbon, and may potentially contain carbides and/or a carbon-containing gas that forms from the thermal decomposition of carbon. The TBC (26) is characterized by lower density and thermal conductivity, high temperature stability and improved mechanical properties. To exhibit the desired effect, the third oxide is more particularly one that increases the lattice strain energy of the TBC microstructure as a result of having an ion size that is sufficiently different than a zirconium ion.

Abstract: A fuel cell and a method for manufacturing a fuel cell are presented. The method comprises providing at least one substrate and disposing a plurality of fuel cell component layers on the substrate by at least one physical vapor deposition process. Each layer of the plurality comprises an edge bordering the layer. The fuel cell unit comprises at least one substrate; a plurality of fuel cell component layers disposed on the substrate, wherein each layer of the plurality comprises an edge bordering the layer; and at least one dense layer of material disposed over at least a portion of the edge of at least one fuel cell component layer. The at least one dense layer seals at least the aforementioned portion of the edge.

Abstract: An electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) apparatus and a method for using the apparatus to produce a coating material (e.g., a ceramic thermal barrier coating) on an article. The EBPVD apparatus generally includes a coating chamber that is operable at elevated temperatures and subatmospheric pressures. An electron beam gun projects an electron beam into the coating chamber and onto a coating material within the chamber, causing the coating material to melt and evaporate. An article is supported within the coating chamber so that vapors of the coating material deposit on the article. The operation of the EBPVD apparatus is enhanced by the inclusion or adaptation of one or more mechanical and/or process modifications, including those necessary or beneficial when operating the apparatus at coating pressures above 0.010 mbar.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating, or TBC (26), and method for forming the TBC (26). The TBC (26) is formed of a thermal-insulating material that contains yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) alloyed with at least a third oxide. The TBC (26) is formed to also contain elemental carbon, and may potentially contain carbides and/or a carbon-containing gas that forms from the thermal decomposition of carbon. The TBC (26) is characterized by lower density and thermal conductivity, high temperature stability and improved mechanical properties. To exhibit the desired effect, the third oxide is more particularly one that increases the lattice strain energy of the TBC microstructure as a result of having an ion size that is sufficiently different than a zirconium ion.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating (TBC 26) and method for forming the TBC (26) on a component (10) characterized by a stabilized microstructure that resists grain growth, sintering and pore coarsening or coalescence during high temperature excursions. The TBC (26) contains elemental carbon and/or a carbon-containing gas that increase the amount of porosity (32) initially within the TBC (26) and form additional fine closed porosity (32) within the TBC (26) during subsequent exposures to high temperatures. A first method involves incorporating elemental carbon precipitates by evaporation into the TBC microstructure. A second method is to directly incorporate an insoluble gas, such as a carbon-containing gas, into an as-deposited TBC (26) and then partially sinter the TBC (26) to entrap the gas and produce fine stable porosity within the TBC (26).