Patents by Inventor Irene Spitsberg

Irene Spitsberg has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20060280963
    Abstract: A coating system for Si-containing materials, particularly those for articles exposed to high temperatures. The coating system exhibits improved resistance to corrosion from sea salt and CMAS as a result of using aluminate compounds to protect silicate-containing layers of the coating system. The coating system includes an environmental barrier coating, a thermal barrier coating overlying the environmental barrier coating and formed of a thermal-insulating material, and a transition layer between the environmental barrier coating and thermal barrier coating, wherein the transition layer contains at least one aluminate compound and/or alumina.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Hazel, Irene Spitsberg
  • Patent number: 7115327
    Abstract: An article comprising a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material, such as an article exposed to the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The article further comprises an environmental barrier layer, e.g., an alkaline earth metal aluminosilicate, and a top coat comprising zirconia or hafnia stabilized with an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals, and mixtures thereof. The article further comprises a transition layer between the environmental barrier layer and the top coat, the transition layer comprising zirconia or hafnia stabilized with an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals; and a low CTE oxide selected from the group consisting of niobia and tantala; and mixtures thereof. A method for preparing a thermal/environmental barrier coating system on a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Christine Govern, Bangalore Aswatha Nagaraj, Brian Thomas Hazel, David Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7115326
    Abstract: An article comprising a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material, such as an article exposed to the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The article further comprises an environmental barrier layer, e.g., an alkaline earth metal aluminosilicate, and a top coat comprising zirconia or hafnia stabilized with up to about 10 mole % of an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals, and mixtures thereof. The article further comprises a transition layer between the environmental barrier layer and the top coat, the transition layer comprising zirconia or hafnia stabilized with up to about 10 mole % of an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals; and a low CTE oxide selected from the group consisting of niobia and tantala; and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Christine Govern, Bangalore Aswatha Nagaraj, Brian Thomas Hazel, David Joseph Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20060216534
    Abstract: Zirconia-containing ceramic compositions that are capable of providing thermal barrier coatings wherein the zirconia is stabilized in the cubic crystalline phase. These compositions comprise at least about 50 mole % zirconia and a stabilizing amount up to about 49 mole % of a stabilizer component comprising: (1) a first metal oxide selected from the group consisting of ytterbia, neodymia, mixtures of ytterbia and neodymia, mixtures of ytterbia and lanthana, mixtures of neodymia and lanthana, and mixtures of ytterbia, neodymia and lanthana in an amount of from about 5 to about 49 mole % of the composition; and (2) a second metal oxide selected from the group consisting of yttria, calcia, ceria, scandia, magnesia, india and mixtures thereof in an amount of about 4 mole % or less of the composition. The ceramic composition further comprises one or more of a third metal oxide selected from the group consisting of: (a) hafnia in an amount from about 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Brett Boutwell, Mark Gorman, Irene Spitsberg, Ramgopal Darolia, Robert Bruce, Venkat Venkataramani
  • Publication number: 20060211241
    Abstract: An article comprising a silicon-containing substrate, a steam-resistant barrier coating overlaying the substrate, wherein the steam-resistant barrier coating comprises an outer barrier layer consisting essentially of an alkaline earth aluminate/aluminosilicate, and a corrosion resistant metal silicate protective layer overlaying and adjacent to the outer barrier layer. A process is also provided for forming on the outer barrier layer the corrosion resistant metal silicate protective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Christine Govern, Irene Spitsberg, Brian Hazel
  • Publication number: 20060210800
    Abstract: An article comprising a silicon carbide and/or silicon metal-containing substrate and an environmental barrier layer overlaying the substrate, wherein the environmental barrier layer has a thickness up to about 5 mils (127 microns) and comprises a reaction-generated corrosion resistant metal silicate. A process is also provided for reacting a metal source and a silica source over the silicon carbide and/or silicon metal-containing substrate to form the environmental barrier layer comprising the reaction-generated corrosion resistant metal silicate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Christine Govern, Brian Hazel, Jennifer Saak, James Steibel
  • Publication number: 20060182892
    Abstract: A beta-phase nickel aluminide (NiAl) overlay coating (24) and method for modifying the grain structure of the coating (24) to improve its oxidation resistance. The coating (24) is deposited by a method that produces a grain structure characterized by grain boundaries (44) exposed at the outer coating surface (36). The grain boundaries (44) may also contain precipitates (40) as a result of the alloyed chemistry of the coating (24). During or after deposition, the overlay coating (24) is caused to form new grain boundaries (34) that, though open to the outer surface (36) of the coating (24), are free of precipitates or contain fewer precipitates (40) than the as-deposited grain boundaries (44). New grain boundaries (34) are preferably produced by causing the overlay coating (24) to recrystallize during coating deposition or after deposition as a result of a surface treatment followed by heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Joseph Rigney, Ramgopal Darolia, Elissa Lee, Jeffrey Pfaendtner
  • Patent number: 7087266
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ramgopal Darolia, Boris A. Movchan, Yuriy E. Rudoy, Leonella M. Nerodenko, Irene Spitsberg, David John Wortman
  • Publication number: 20060166015
    Abstract: An article comprising a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material, such as an article exposed to the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The article further comprises an environmental barrier layer, e.g., an alkaline earth metal aluminosilicate, and a top coat comprising zirconia or hafnia stabilized with up to about 10 mole % of an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals, and mixtures thereof. The article further comprises a transition layer between the environmental barrier layer and the top coat, the transition layer comprising zirconia or hafnia stabilized with up to about 10 mole % of an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals; and a low CTE oxide selected from the group consisting of niobia and tantala; and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Christine Govern, Bangalore Nagaraj, Brian Hazel, David Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20060166019
    Abstract: An article comprising a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material, such as an article exposed to the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The article further comprises an environmental barrier layer formed by chemical vapor deposition and comprising mullite and alumina, and a top coat comprising alumina, stabilized zirconia or stabilized hafnia, wherein the zirconia or hafnia is stabilized with an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals, and mixtures thereof. The environmental barrier layer is compositionally graded and consists essentially of mullite at an interface of the environmental barrier layer with the substrate, and consists essentially of alumina at an interface of the environmental barrier layer with the top coat, the environmental barrier layer having a decreasing concentration of mullite and an increasing concentration of alumina in a direction away from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Brian Hazel
  • Publication number: 20060166018
    Abstract: An article comprising a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material, such as an article exposed to the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The article further comprises an environmental barrier layer, e.g., an alkaline earth metal aluminosilicate, and a physical barrier layer overlying the environmental barrier layer. The physical barrier layer comprises zirconia or hafnia stabilized with an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals; and a low CTE oxide selected from the group consisting of niobia and tantala; and mixtures thereof. A method for preparing an environmental barrier coating system on a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Christine Govern, Bangalore Nagaraj, David Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20060166017
    Abstract: An article comprising a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material, such as an article exposed to the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The article further comprises an environmental barrier layer, e.g., an alkaline earth metal aluminosilicate, and a top coat comprising zirconia or hafnia stabilized with an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals, and mixtures thereof. The article further comprises a transition layer between the environmental barrier layer and the top coat, the transition layer comprising zirconia or hafnia stabilized with an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals; and a low CTE oxide selected from the group consisting of niobia and tantala; and mixtures thereof. A method for preparing a thermal/environmental barrier coating system on a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Christine Govern, Bangalore Nagaraj, Brian Hazel, David Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20060166016
    Abstract: An article comprising a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material, such as an article exposed to the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The article further comprises an environmental barrier layer, e.g., an alkaline earth metal aluminosilicate, and a top coat comprising hafnia stabilized with from about 0.5 mole % to about 10 mole % of an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, and lanthanide metals, and mixtures thereof. The article optionally comprises a transition layer between the environmental barrier layer and the top coat. A method for preparing a thermal/environmental barrier coating on a substrate formed of a silicon-comprising material is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Christine Govern, Bangalore Nagaraj, Brian Hazel, David Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20060121295
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a thermal barrier coating (TBC) for inclusion in a thermal barrier coating/environmental barrier coating system (TBC/EBC system) for use on a silicon containing material substrate is provided. The TBC comprises a compound having a primary constituent portion and a stabilizer portion stabilizing said primary constituent. The primary constituent portion of the TBC comprises hafnia present in an amount of at least about 5 mol % of the primary constituent. The stabilizer portion of said thermal barrier coating comprises at least one metal oxide comprised of cations with a +2 or +3 valence present in the amount of about 10 to about 40 mol % of the thermal barrier coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Brett Boutwell, Irene Spitsberg, Christine Govern, Bangalore Nagaraj, Brian Hazel
  • Publication number: 20060121293
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an article is provided. The article comprises a substrate comprised of silicon containing material, an environmental barrier coating (EBC) overlying the substrate and a thermal barrier coating (TBC) on the environmental barrier coating. The thermal barrier coating comprising a compound having a rhombohedral phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Brett Boutwell, Irene Spitsberg, Christine Govern, Bangalore Nagaraj, Brian Hazel, Ramgopal Darolia, Curtis Johnson, Yan Gao, Mark Gorman
  • Publication number: 20060121294
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a thermal barrier coating for inclusion in a thermal barrier coating system is provided. The thermal barrier coating comprises a compound having a rhombohedral phase. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a thermal barrier coating is provided that comprises a compound having the formula of: A4B3O12, wherein A is at least one rare earth element; and B is selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Brett Allen Boutwell, Ramgopal Darolia, Curtis Johnson, Irene Spitsberg, Mark Gorman, Yan Gao
  • Publication number: 20060115659
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, disclosed is a composite comprising a porous thermal barrier coating on a metallic part and an impermeable barrier coating adjacent to the outer surface of the thermal barrier coating. The impermeable barrier coating is dense and non-porous and comprises a rare earth silicate, the impermeable barrier coating thereby preventing infiltration of the contaminant composition into the thermal barrier coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Hazel, Irene Spitsberg, Christine Govern, Bangalore Nagaraj
  • Publication number: 20060046090
    Abstract: A composition is disclosed that includes an at least partially stabilized zirconia matrix with a pentavalent oxide first dopant and an oxide second dopant. A coated article is disclosed for use in a high temperature a gas turbine. The coated article can include an yttria-stabilized zirconia, a pentavalent oxide first dopant, and an oxide second dopant. The ratio of the pentavalent oxide second dopant to the oxide third dopant can be less than or equal to about 1. The composition can reduce sintering of the thermal barrier coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Venkat Venkataramani, Brett Boutwell
  • Publication number: 20060040127
    Abstract: Zirconia-containing ceramic compositions useful for thermal barrier coatings having improved mechanical properties, especially improved fracture toughness. These compositions comprise: (1) at least about 93 mole % zirconia; (2) a stabilizing amount up to about 5 mole % of a stabilizer metal oxide selected from the group consisting of yttria, calcia, ceria, scandia, magnesia, india, gadolinia, neodymia, samaria, dysprosia, erbia, ytterbia, europia, praseodymia, and mixtures thereof, and a fracture toughness improving amount up to about 2 mole % lanthana. These ceramic compositions can be used to prepare thermal barrier coatings to provide a thermally protected article having a substrate and optionally a bond coat layer adjacent to and overlaying the substrate. The thermal barrier coating can be prepared by depositing the ceramic composition on the bond coat layer or the substrate in the absence of a bond coat layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Irene Spitsberg, Brett Boutwell
  • Patent number: 6998172
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Boris A. Movchan, Yuriy E. Rudoy, Leonella M. Nerodenko, Ramgopal Darolia, Irene Spitsberg, Anthony Mark Thompson, Curtis Alan Johnson, David John Wortman