Abstract: A protected article includes a substrate, and a protective structure overlying the substrate. The protective structure has a diffusion-barrier layer overlying the substrate, wherein the diffusion-barrier layer comprises at least about 70 percent by weight iridium, and a protective layer overlying the diffusion-barrier layer so that the diffusion-barrier layer is between the substrate and the protective layer. The protective layer is at least about 70 percent by weight of a platinum-group element. A ceramic thermal barrier coating may overlie the protective layer.

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.

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.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, an article of manufacture for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The article comprises a part having a surface covered with a ceramic thermal barrier coating. The thermal barrier coating has an outer surface covered with a sacrificial phosphate coating, wherein the sacrificial phosphate coating reacts with contaminant compositions to prevent contaminant infiltration into the thermal barrier coating.

Abstract: Methods for depositing an overlay coating on articles intended for use in hostile thermal environments. The coating has a predominantly gamma prime-phase nickel aluminide (Ni3Al) composition suitable for use as an environmental coating and as a bond coat of a thermal barrier coating system. The coating further contains at least one platinum group metal, preferably chromium, optionally one or more reactive elements, and optionally silicon. The coating is deposited by a process that entails forming a platinum group metal layer and at least one separate layer of other constituents of the coating, and then performing a diffusion heat treatment to yield the coating.

Abstract: A protected article includes a substrate having a surface and a substrate aluminum content. A first protective layer overlies a first region of the surface of the substrate, wherein the first protective layer has a composition having a first-protective-layer aluminum content at least 3 atomic percent greater than the substrate aluminum content. A second protective layer overlies a second region of the surface of the substrate different from the first region, wherein the second protective layer has a composition with at least about 60 percent by weight of platinum, rhodium, or palladium, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A protected article has a substrate and a protective structure overlying a surface of the substrate. The protective structure includes a protective layer overlying the surface of the substrate and having an aluminum content greater than that of the substrate, and a bond-coat layer of a bond-coat-layer metal. The bond-coat-layer metal has a bond-coat initial composition having at least about 60 percent by weight platinum, rhodium, palladium, or combinations thereof. There may be a diffusion-barrier layer between the surface of the substrate and the protective layer, and there may be a ceramic thermal barrier coating overlying the bond-coat layer.

Abstract: A turbine airfoil having an improved impact and erosion resistance. The airfoil comprises: (a) a base segment having an impact resistant leading edge section proximate to the leading edge comprising a material having having a yield strength of least about 250 ksi and an elongation percentage of about 12% or less; and (b) an erosion resistant coating overlaying the base segment at least in the leading and trailing edge portions of the pressure side, the erosion resistant coating comprising at least one ceramic layer having at least one of the following properties: (1) an erosion value of at least about 200 g. of erodent to cause a thickness loss of about 15-20 microns; (2) an erosion volume loss value (V) of about 1.9 or less as defined by the equation V=H?0.18×E0.75×F?1.65 where H is hardness, E is elastic modulus and F is fracture toughness; and (3) an F value of at least about 1.5 MPa*m1/2.

Abstract: An alloy and a gas turbine engine component comprising an alloy, the alloy comprising rhodium, platinum, and palladium, wherein the alloy comprises a microstructure that is essentially free of L12-structured phase at a temperature greater than about 1000° C.

Abstract: Ceramic compositions comprising a main ceramic component comprising from about 63 to about 99 mole % zirconia and from about 1 to about 37 mole % hafnia. These compositions further comprise at least about 4 mole % of a stabilizer metal oxide selected from the group consisting of yttria, calcia, ceria, scandia, magnesia, india, lanthana, gadolinia, neodymia, samaria, dysprosia, erbia, ytterbia, europia, praseodymia, and mixtures thereof. These ceramic compositions are useful in preparing thermal barrier coatings having reduced thermal conductivity for the substrate of articles that operate at, or are exposed to, high temperatures, as well as good producibility and impact/erosion resistance. Inclusion of hafnia also maintains the reduced conductivity of the thermal barrier coating after thermal exposure due to better sintering resistance.

Abstract: An adjustable safety mechanism for a motorcycle foot peg, the device including a support mechanism for providing additional support for a foot a mounter for mounting the support mechanism on and spaced from the foot peg, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the support mechanism relative to the foot peg, the adjusting mechanism extending between the support mechanism and the mounter. A method of retrofitting a safety device on a motorcycle foot peg by mounting the safety device on an attached motorcycle foot peg utilizing a universal bracket.

Abstract: A test method for testing the thermal mechanical fatigue performance of a test material includes preparing a test specimen of the test material, wherein the test specimen has a base, and a rib extending outwardly from the base. The test specimen is thermally cycled through at least one test cycle. In each test cycle the rib is heated to a higher rib temperature and thereafter cooled to a lower rib temperature. The test specimen is evaluated for thermal mechanical fatigue damage.

Abstract: Ceramic compositions comprising at least about 91 mole % zirconia and up to about 9 mole % of a stabilizer component comprising a first metal oxide having selected from the group consisting of yttria, calcia, ceria, scandia, magnesia, india and mixtures thereof. This stabilizer component further comprises a second metal oxide of a trivalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of lanthana, gadolinia, neodymia, samaria, dysprosium, and mixtures thereof and a third metal oxide of a trivalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of erbia, ytterbia and mixtures thereof. These ceramic compositions are useful in preparing thermal barrier coatings having reduced thermal conductivity for the metal substrate of articles that operate at, or are exposed to, high temperatures.

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.

Abstract: Ceramic compositions comprising at least about 91 mole % zirconia and up to about 9 mole % of a stabilizer component comprising a first metal oxide having selected from the group consisting of yttria, calcia, ceria, scandia, magnesia, india and mixtures thereof. This stabilizer component further comprises a second metal oxide of a trivalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of lanthana, gadolinia, neodymia, samaria, dysprosia, erbia, ytterbia, and mixtures thereof. These ceramic compositions are useful in preparing thermal barrier coatings having reduced thermal conductivity for the metal substrate of articles that operate at, or are exposed to, high temperatures.

Abstract: A process for reducing the incidence of a secondary reaction zone (SRZ) in alloys prone to SRZ formation, particularly superalloys that have a high refractory element content. The process finds use with articles having a wall region that defines external and internal surfaces on the exterior and within the article, respectively. Diffusion coatings are formed on the internal and external surfaces of the article, with at least the diffusion coating on the external surface comprising an additive layer and a diffusion zone that is beneath the additive layer and extends into the wall region. The additive layer and at least a portion of the diffusion zone of the external diffusion coating is then removed to define an exposed surface region on the exterior of the article. An overlay coating is then deposited on the exposed surface region.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating (TBC) for a component intended for use in a hostile thermal environment. The TBC has an interior region and an outer surface region on and contacting the interior region. Both regions are formed of a ceramic material, with the interior region having a lower thermal conductivity than zirconia partially stabilized by about seven weight percent yttria. The interior region constitutes more than half of the thickness of the TBC, and the outer surface region constitutes less than half of the thickness of the TBC. The TBC has a columnar microstructure whereby the interior region and the outer surface region comprise columns of their ceramic materials. The outer surface region is more erosion and impact resistant than the interior region at least in part as a result of the columns thereof being more closely spaced than the columns of the interior region.

Abstract: A turbine engine component comprising a substrate made of a nickel-base or cobalt-base superalloy, a non-metallic oxide or nitride diffusion barrier layer overlying the substrate, and a protective coating overlying the barrier layer, the protective coating comprising at least one platinum group metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium. The diffusion barrier layer may be a deposited or thermally grown oxide material, especially aluminum oxide. The protective coating may be heat treated to increase homogeneity of the coating and adherence with the substrate. The component typically further comprises a ceramic thermal barrier coating overlying the protective coating. Also disclosed are methods for forming a protective coating system on the turbine engine component by forming the non-metallic oxide or nitride diffusion barrier layer on the substrate and then depositing the platinum group metal on top of the barrier layer.

Abstract: A turbine engine component comprising a substrate made of a nickel-base or cobalt-base superalloy and a protective coating overlying the substrate, the coating formed by electroplating at least two platinum group metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium. The protective coating is typically heat treated to increase homogeneity of the coating and adherence with the substrate. The component typically further comprises a ceramic thermal barrier coating overlying the protective coating. Also disclosed are methods for forming the protective coating on the turbine engine component by electroplating the platinum group metals.

Abstract: An adjustable safety mechanism for a motorcycle foot peg, the device including a support mechanism for providing additional support for a foot a mounter for mounting the support mechanism on and spaced from the foot peg, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the support mechanism relative to the foot peg, the adjusting mechanism extending between the support mechanism and the mounter. A method of retrofitting a safety device on a motorcycle foot peg by mounting the safety device on an attached motorcycle foot peg utilizing a universal bracket.