Abstract: A system is provided with a controller configured to receive a computer model of a mold configured to cast a part. The computer model has a variable wall thickness of the mold thermally tailored to a geometry of the part. The controller is configured to control a manufacturing system to produce the mold based on the computer model.

Abstract: A method of forming a directionally-solidified casting component using a casting system is provided. The casting system includes a chamber having a heating zone and a cooling zone separated by a baffle plate. The method includes pouring an alloy in a liquid state into a mold shell. The mold shell is positioned on a chill plate within the heating zone. The method further includes moving the mold shell from the heating zone into the cooling zone. The alloy transfers from the liquid state to a solid state within the mold shell while moving the mold shell from the heating zone to the cooling zone. The method further includes contacting the mold shell with a heat transfer member.

Abstract: A casting system for forming a directionally-solidified casting component is provided. The casting system defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The casting system includes a chamber and a baffle plate disposed within the chamber. The chamber and the baffle plate collectively define a heating zone and a cooling zone. The heating zone and the cooling zone are separated by the baffle plate. The casting system further includes a shaft and a cooling plate disposed on the shaft. The cooling plate is movable between the heating zone and the cooling zone. A mold shell is disposed on the cooling plate. The casting system further includes a cooling system for directing a coolant fluid towards the mold shell.

Abstract: A method of forming a directionally-solidified casting component using a casting system is provided. The casting system includes a chamber having a heating zone and a cooling zone separated by a baffle plate. The method includes pouring an alloy in a liquid state into a mold shell. The mold shell is positioned on a chill plate within the heating zone. The method further includes moving the mold shell from the heating zone into the cooling zone. The alloy transfers from the liquid state to a solid state within the mold shell while moving the mold shell from the heating zone to the cooling zone. The method further includes contacting the mold shell with a heat transfer member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for infiltrating porous ceramic matrix composite (CMC) preforms to form CMC articles are disclosed. One method may include positioning the porous CMC preform in an opening of a die set for an infiltration system, and flowing a molten densifier over the porous CMC preform in a first flow direction to infiltrate a plurality of voids formed between each of a plurality of ply stacks of the CMC preform. The method may also include flowing the molten densifier over the porous CMC preform in a second flow direction, distinct from the first flow direction, to infiltrate the plurality of voids formed between each of the plurality of ply stacks of the CMC preform. The second flow direction may be substantially parallel to a predetermined, unidirectional material orientation of at least one ply stack of the plurality of ply stacks of the CMC preform.

Abstract: A method includes masking at least one hole of an article with a paste, wherein the hole opens onto a surface of the article, applying a coating to the surface of the article, and removing the paste including contacting the paste with water, leaving at least one open hole in the surface of the coated article. The paste includes about 40-80 wt % of a filler material, about 0.5-20 wt % of an inorganic binder, about 0.5-15 wt % of a polyhydroxy compound and about 5-25 wt % of water. The filler material includes a first material which includes alkali metal doped alumina, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, silicon dioxide, or a combination thereof and a second material which includes a silicate. A weight ratio between the first and second materials is in a range of about 1-10.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed, including a first article, a second article, at least one interface structure, and a thermal break directly adjacent to the at least one interface structure. The first article includes a first material composition having a first thermal tolerance. The second article includes a second material composition having a second thermal tolerance greater than the first thermal tolerance. The first article and the second article are in contact with one another through the interface structure. The thermal break interrupts a thermal conduction path from the second article to the first article.

Abstract: A method of controlling an extent of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) sheet spall and a hot gas path (HGP) component are disclosed. The method provides an HGP component having a body with an exterior surface. Controlling the extent of the TBC sheet spall includes forming a TBC over a selected portion of the exterior surface of the body. The TBC includes a plurality of segments in a cellular pattern. Each segment is defined by one or more slots in the TBC, and each segment has a predefined area such that the extent of the TBC sheet spall is limited by the predefined area of each of the plurality of segments that constitute the TBC sheet spall.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for densifying a melt infiltrated ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article, and a densified melt infiltrated CMC article formed thereby. Particular embodiments include a method including: providing a porous CMC preform within a first region of a casting apparatus; providing a molten densifier within a pressure head area of a second region of the casting apparatus, the first and second regions being operably connected and the molten densifier including at least one source of silicon; and applying a first pressure to the molten densifier within the pressure head, thereby infiltrating voids within the porous CMC preform with the molten densifier and forming a densified melt infiltrated CMC article.

Abstract: A method for protecting a coating on a surface of a component is provided. The method includes a coating step for coating at least a portion of the component with a ceramic slurry. A projecting step is used for projecting a pattern of light onto the component with a lithographic process to expose and solidify a ceramic layer. A removing step is used for removing unexposed portions of the ceramic slurry from the component. A heating step heats the component to sinter the ceramic layer. The ceramic layer is formed with multiple fracture planes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for infiltrating porous ceramic matrix composite (CMC) preforms to form CMC articles are disclosed. One method may include positioning the porous CMC preform in an opening of a die set for an infiltration system, and flowing a molten densifier over the porous CMC preform in a first flow direction to infiltrate a plurality of voids formed between each of a plurality of ply stacks of the CMC preform. The method may also include flowing the molten densifier over the porous CMC preform in a second flow direction, distinct from the first flow direction, to infiltrate the plurality of voids formed between each of the plurality of ply stacks of the CMC preform. The second flow direction may be substantially parallel to a predetermined, unidirectional material orientation of at least one ply stack of the plurality of ply stacks of the CMC preform.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for densifying a melt infiltrated ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article, and a densified melt infiltrated CMC article formed thereby. Particular embodiments include a method including: providing a porous CMC preform within a first region of a casting apparatus; providing a molten densifier within a pressure head area of a second region of the casting apparatus, the first and second regions being operably connected and the molten densifier including at least one source of silicon; and applying a first pressure to the molten densifier within the pressure head, thereby infiltrating voids within the porous CMC preform with the molten densifier and forming a densified melt infiltrated CMC article.

Abstract: A method for protecting a coating on a surface of a component is provided. The method includes a coating step for coating at least a portion of the component with a ceramic slurry. A projecting step is used for projecting a pattern of light onto the component with a lithographic process to expose and solidify a ceramic layer. A removing step is used for removing unexposed portions of the ceramic slurry from the component. A heating step heats the component to sinter the ceramic layer. The ceramic layer comprises multiple ridges with each of the ridges having a curvilinear pattern.

Abstract: A method for protecting a coating on a surface of a component is provided. The method includes a coating step for coating at least a portion of the component with a ceramic slurry. A projecting step is used for projecting a pattern of light onto the component with a lithographic process to expose and solidify a ceramic layer. A removing step is used for removing unexposed portions of the ceramic slurry from the component. A heating step heats the component to sinter the ceramic layer. The ceramic layer is formed with multiple fracture planes.

Abstract: A method of controlling an extent of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) sheet spall and a hot gas path (HGP) component are disclosed. The method provides an HGP component having a body with an exterior surface. Controlling the extent of the TBC sheet spall includes forming a TBC over a selected portion of the exterior surface of the body. The TBC includes a plurality of segments in a cellular pattern. Each segment is defined by one or more slots in the TBC, and each segment has a predefined area such that the extent of the TBC sheet spall is limited by the predefined area of each of the plurality of segments that constitute the TBC sheet spall.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for forming a passage in a composite component. The method includes forming a cavity in a fiber preform. The cavity forms a portion of the passage. The method also includes inserting a core into the cavity and placing one or more fiber plies onto the fiber preform to form a fiber preform assembly. The method further includes thermally processing the fiber preform assembly and densifying the fiber preform assembly to form the composite component. The method also includes removing the core from the composite component.

Abstract: A method includes masking at least one hole of an article with a paste, wherein the hole opens onto a surface of the article, applying a coating to the surface of the article, and removing the paste including contacting the paste with water, leaving at least one open hole in the surface of the coated article. The paste includes about 40-80 wt % of a filler material, about 0.5-20 wt % of an inorganic binder, about 0.5-15 wt % of a polyhydroxy compound and about 5-25 wt % of water. The filler material includes a first material which includes alkali metal doped alumina, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, silicon dioxide, or a combination thereof and a second material which includes a silicate. A weight ratio between the first and second materials is in a range of about 1-10.

Abstract: A method of forming a pre-form ceramic matrix composite mold for a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component including providing pieces of CMC remnant scrap material and randomly arranging the pieces of CMC remnant scrap material relative to one another. The method further includes debulking the pieces of CMC remnant scrap material into a rigidized shape, the rigidized shape having gaps between adjacent pieces of CMC remnant scrap material of about 10 microns and about 10 mm and a gap spacing between about 50 microns and about 50 mm, and forming the rigidized shape into a mold.

Abstract: A method of treating a ceramic matrix composite article, including selecting an article having a ceramic composition formed by a process comprising an initial melt infiltration at an initial temperature with an initial infiltration material, whereby said article has at least one treatable feature. A portion of the ceramic composite is removed from a region abutting the treatable feature to form a treatment region. A treatment material including a reinforcing fiber is positioned in the treatment region and densified by a first melt infiltration with a first infiltration material including silicon. The first melt infiltration is performed at a first temperature lower than the initial infiltration temperature of the initial melt infiltration.

Abstract: A mold assembly for use in forming a component having an internal passage defined therein includes a mold defining a mold cavity therein, and a jacketed core positioned with respect to the mold. The jacketed core includes a hollow structure, and an inner core disposed within the hollow structure and positioned to define the internal passage within the component when a component material in a molten state is introduced into the mold cavity and cooled to form the component. The jacketed core also includes a first coating layer disposed between the hollow structure and the inner core.