Abstract: This invention relates to dense, vertically cracked thermal barrier coatings made from high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powders. The high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder consisting essentially of less than about 0.01 weight percent silicon dioxide (silica), less than about 0.002 weight percent aluminum oxide (alumina), less than about 0.005 weight percent calcium oxide, less than about 0.005 weight percent ferric oxide, less than about 0 to about 0.002 weight percent magnesium oxide, less than about 0 to about 0.005 weight percent titanium dioxide, from about 1.5 to about 2 weight percent hafnium oxide (hafnia), from about 6 to about 25 weight percent yttrium oxide (yttria), less than 0.1 weight percent other impurity oxides, and the balance zirconium oxide (zirconia) and the balance zirconium oxide (zirconia).

Abstract: This invention relates to articles coated with a thermally sprayed coating of a high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder, said high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder comprising from about 0 to about 0.15 weight percent impurity oxides, from about 0 to about 2 weight percent hafnium oxide (hafnia), from about 6 to about 25 weight percent yttrium oxide (yttria) or from about 10 to about 36 weight percent ytterbium oxide (ytterbia), and the balance zirconium oxide (zirconia). The articles include, for example, blades, vanes and seal surfaces of gas turbine engines coated with a thermal barrier coating.

Abstract: This invention relates to erosion resistant coatings comprising at least 2 sublayer systems in which each sublayer system is separated from another by an interlayer, wherein (i) each sublayer system is the same or different and comprises at least 4 layers, (ii) said layers comprise alternating layers of a nitride-containing compound of stoichiometric composition and a nitride-containing compound of nonstoichiometric composition, (iii) each sublayer system has a thickness of greater than about 0.4 microns, and (iv) each interlayer is the same or different and comprises a metal-containing compound. This invention also relates to a method for producing the coatings and to articles, e.g., gas turbine compressor rotor blade and stator vanes, coated with the coatings.

Abstract: This invention relates to erosion resistant coatings comprising at least 2 sublayer systems in which each sublayer system is separated from another by an interlayer, wherein (i) each sublayer system is the same or different and comprises at least 4 layers, (ii) said layers comprise alternating layers of a nitride-containing compound of stoichiometric composition and a nitride-containing compound of nonstoichiometric composition, (iii) each sublayer system has a thickness of greater than about 0.4 microns, and (iv) each interlayer is the same or different and comprises a metal-containing compound. This invention also relates to a method for producing the coatings and to articles, e.g., gas turbine compressor rotor blade and stator vanes, coated with the coatings.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fixture for use in a physical vapor deposition coating operation which comprises a support structure 14 comprising a circular base member 10, a circular top member 11 opposite the circular base member 10, and a plurality of structural members 12 joining said top member 11 to said base member 10; a plurality of panel members 13 aligned in a vertical direction around the outer periphery of said support structure 14 forming a cylinder-like structure; said panel members 13 including a plurality of apertures for holding workpieces 19 and 35 to which a coating is to be applied; and said apertures positioned on said panel members 13 so that said workpieces 19 and 35 are aligned in a staggered vertical direction. This invention also relates to a method for simultaneously coating a plurality of workpieces 19 and 35, such as gas turbine compressor blades and vanes, with erosion resistant coatings using the fixture of this invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fixture for use in a physical vapor deposition coating operation which comprises a support structure 14 comprising a circular base member 10, a circular top member 11 opposite the circular base member 10, and a plurality of structural members 12 joining said top member 11 to said base member 10; a plurality of panel members 13 aligned in a vertical direction around the outer periphery of said support structure 14 forming a cylinder structure; said panel members 13 including a plurality of apertures for holding workpieces 19 and 35 to which a coating is to be applied; and said apertures positioned on said panel members 13 so that said workpieces 19 and 35 are aligned in a staggered vertical direction. This invention also relates to a method for simultaneously coating a plurality of workpieces 19 and 35, such as gas turbine compressor blades and vanes, with erosion resistant coatings using the fixture of this invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fixture for use in a physical vapor deposition coating operation which comprises a support structure 14 comprising a circular base member 10, a circular top member 11 opposite the circular base member 10, and a plurality of structural members 12 joining said top member 11 to said base member 10; a plurality of panel members 13 aligned in a vertical direction around the outer periphery of said support structure 14 forming a cylinder-like structure; said panel members 13 including a plurality of apertures for holding workpieces 19 and 35 to which a coating is to be applied; and said apertures positioned on said panel members 13 so that said workpieces 19 and 35 are aligned in a staggered vertical direction. This invention also relates to a method for simultaneously coating a plurality of workpieces 19 and 35, such as gas turbine compressor blades and vanes, with erosion resistant coatings using the fixture of this invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermally sprayed coatings of a high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder, said high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder comprising from about 0 to about 0.15 weight percent impurity oxides, from about 0 to about 2 weight percent hafnium oxide (hafnia), from about 6 to about 25 weight percent yttrium oxide (yttria) or from about 10 to about 36 weight percent ytterbium oxide (ytterbia), and the balance zirconium oxide (zirconia). Thermal barrier coatings for protecting a component such as blades, vanes and seal surfaces of gas turbine engines, made from the high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powders, have a density greater than 88% of the theoretical density with a plurality of vertical macrocracks homogeneously dispersed throughout the coating to improve its thermal fatigue resistance.

Abstract: This invention relates to articles coated with a thermally sprayed coating of a high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder, said high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder comprising from about 0 to about 0.15 weight percent impurity oxides, from about 0 to about 2 weight percent hafnium oxide (hafnia), from about 6 to about 25 weight percent yttrium oxide (yttria) or from about 10 to about 36 weight percent ytterbium oxide (ytterbia), and the balance zirconium oxide (zirconia). The articles include, for example, blades, vanes and seal surfaces of gas turbine engines coated with a thermal barrier coating.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermal spray processes comprising thermally depositing a high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder, said powder comprising from about 0 to about 0.15 weight percent impurity oxides, from about 0 to about 2 weight percent hafnium oxide (hafnia), from about 6 to about 25 weight percent yttrium oxide (yttria) or from about 10 to about 36 weight percent ytterbium oxide (ytterbia), and the balance zirconium oxide (zirconia), onto a substrate to produce a coating having vertical segmentation cracks, essentially through the full thickness of the coating, and having from about 5 to about 200 cracks per linear inch measured in a line parallel to the plane of the coating, and having a thickness of from about 5 to about 200 mils; and having a final surface layer comprising a dipped or solution-sprayed ceramic frit coating having a thickness up to about 5 mils; and treating said surface layer with a high temperature air heat treatment to bond and adhere the surface layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to erosion resistant coatings comprising at least 2 sublayer systems in which each sublayer system is separated from another by an interlayer, wherein (i) each sublayer system is the same or different and comprises at least 4 layers, (ii) said layers comprise alternating layers of a nitride-containing compound of stoichiometric composition and a nitride-containing compound of nonstoichiometric composition, (iii) each sublayer system has a thickness of greater than about 0.4 microns, and (iv) each interlayer is the same or different and comprises a metal-containing compound. This invention also relates to a method for producing the coatings and to articles, e.g., gas turbine compressor rotor blade and stator vanes, coated with the coatings.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for coating blades for a gas turbine engine, said blades having an inner end adapted for mounting on a hub and a blade tip located opposite the inner end, and wherein at least a portion of the blade tip is coated with a thermally sprayed coating of a high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder, said thermally sprayed coating having a density greater than 88% of the theoretical density with a plurality of vertical macrocracks substantially homogeneously dispersed throughout the coating in which a cross-sectional area of the coating normal to the blade tip exposes a plurality of vertical macrocracks extending at least half the coating thickness in length up to the full thickness of the coating and having from about 5 to about 200 vertical macrocracks per linear inch measured in a line parallel to the surface of the blade tip and in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the blade tip, and said high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder comprising

Abstract: This invention relates to blades for a gas turbine engine, said blades having an inner end adapted for mounting on a hub and a blade tip located opposite the inner end, and wherein at least a portion of the blade tip is coated with a thermally sprayed coating of a high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder, said thermally sprayed coating having a density greater than 88% of the theoretical density with a plurality of vertical macrocracks substantially homogeneously dispersed throughout the coating in which a cross-sectional area of the coating normal to the blade tip exposes a plurality of vertical macrocracks extending at least half the coating thickness in length up to the full thickness of the coating and having from about 5 to about 200 vertical macrocracks per linear inch measured in a line parallel to the surface of the blade tip and in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the blade tip, and said high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder comprising from about 0 to about

Abstract: A crucible (9) of a nonmetallic material with an elongated cavity (42) to contain the material to be evaporated has on top a vapor emission slot (45) which is defined at its longitudinal edges (43, 44) by two elongated plates (40, 41) of a likewise nonmetallic material. In the cavity (42) two heating rods (46, 47) are disposed in a mirror-symmetrical relationship to a plane of symmetry (S) through the vapor emission slot (45), one under each of the plates (40, 41) defining the vapor emission slot (45). Additional heating means are provided outside of the crucible and inside of a thermal barrier system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for coating substrates which are arranged within a vacuum chamber on a substrate holder which is situated at least partially in a coating range on whose both sides magnetron cathodes with magnet systems of permanent magnets with outside poles and inside poles are disposed, wherein the polarity of the magnet systems of the magnetron cathodes is such that poles of opposed polarity are opposite one another on both sides of the coating range; and on opposite sides of the coating range at least one magnet coil is disposed, and the oppositely situated magnet coils being connectable to a power source in such a manner that the fields of the magnet coils together make up a closed magnetic field, and that the polarity of the outside poles of the permanent magnet systems and of the magnet coils is the same.

Abstract: In an apparatus for applying dielectric or metallic substances, such as silicon dioxide, for example, to a substrate (15) disposed in a vacuum chamber (16, 17), the apparatus having an electron emitter (9) and having solenoid coils (30, 42) disposed in the area of the vacuum chamber, the electron emitter (9) is disposed in a separate generator chamber (37) forming the anode (11) and communicating with the vacuum chamber (17), so that, after the process gas is introduced into the generator chamber (37) a large-area plasma jet (8) is produced which is guided by the action of magnets (6, 20, 30, 42) between the electron emitter (9) and a melting furnace (7) disposed in the vacuum chamber (17), while the vapor stream issuing from the melting furnace (7) is accelerated and reaches the substrate (15) as activated vapor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the reactive deposition of vapors of metal compounds onto substrates by the evaporation of at least one metal by means of an electron beam in an atmosphere consisting of the reaction gas, at pressures of no more than 10.sup.-1 mbar. An electrode positively biased with respect to ground and having an acceleration voltage of at least 20 kV is disposed in the area of the vapor stream flowing to the substrate. The metal vapor is produced in an internal chamber which surrounds the evaporator and has a masked orifice opposite the substrate. The reaction gas is introduced into the internal chamber and the metal vapor and reaction gas are guided by the masked orifice toward the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and coiling films of insulating material coated under a vacuum with electrically conductive material, comprising an electron beam vaporizer, a feed drum, a roller disposed above the electron beam vaporizer and looped by the film, a take-up drum, and deflector rolls for establishing a path for the film, at least one plasma source oriented towards the path of the film so that the plasma touches the film, said plasma source being disposed in the region of the path of the film from the electron beam vaporizer to the take-up drum, wherein the plasma source is disposed at the end of the angle of contact specified by one of the deflector rolls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the reactive vapor deposition of metal compounds onto a substrate. At least one metal is evaporated from an elongated evaporation crucible in an atmosphere consisting of a reaction gas at a pressure of no more than 10.sup.-1 mbar. The metal is evaporated by means of an electron beam having an acceleration voltage of at least 20 kv. The invention solves the problem of providing stable an repeatable operating conditions, even with an evaporation crucible of considerable length.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing rolls or coils of film of insulating material which has been conductively coated, in a vacuum, by vaporizing conductive material in direct electron beam bombardment and condensing the vapor on the film surface. According to the invention, the film is subjected to a plasma treatment after coating and before the film is wound in a coil.