Abstract: An optical coating is applied to an article surface of an article by providing a deposition substrate other than the article surface, wherein the deposition substrate is made of a removable material. The optical coating is thereafter deposited onto the deposition substrate. The optical coating is thereafter transferred to the article surface using a transfer support, which may be the deposition substrate or may be a different piece. The method includes thereafter affixing the optical coating to the article surface, and thereafter removing the transfer support.

Abstract: A coating and method for overcoating a TBC on a component used in a high-temperature environment, such as the combustor section of an industrial gas turbine. The coating defines the outermost surface of the component and is formed of at least two layers having different compositions. An inner layer of the coating contains alumina in a first silica-containing matrix material that is free of zinc titanate. An outer layer of the coating contains alumina, a glass material, and zinc titanate in a second silica-containing matrix material. The outer layer of the coating has a surface roughness of not greater than three micrometers Ra and forms the outermost surface of the component. The coating reduces the component temperature by reducing the convective and radiant heat transfer thereto.

Abstract: A method for forming a ceramic layer on the surface of a turbine component. This method comprises the following steps: (a) providing a turbine component having a surface; (b) providing at least one ceramic tape overlaying the component surface; and (c) manually pressing the at least one ceramic tape against the component surface at a temperature of from about 150° to about 700° F. (from about 66° to about 371° C.) so as to cause the at least one ceramic tape to adhere to the component surface.

Abstract: A coating and method for overcoating a TBC on a component used in a high-temperature environment, such as the combustor section of an industrial gas turbine. The coating defines the outermost surface of the component and is formed of at least two layers having different compositions. An inner layer of the coating contains alumina in a first silica-containing matrix material that is free of zinc titanate. An outer layer of the coating contains alumina, a glass material, and zinc titanate in a second silica-containing matrix material. The outer layer of the coating has a surface roughness of not greater than three micrometers Ra and forms the outermost surface of the component. The coating reduces the component temperature by reducing the convective and radiant heat transfer thereto.

Abstract: A method for producing a coating for applying to parts used in combustive gas atmospheres includes applying a layer of a material having a high index of radiative reflectance to a surface, and then applying a layer of a material having a low index of radiative reflectance over the high reflectance layer. After sufficient alternate layers of material have been applied to meet a predetermined spectral reflectance profile, the combined layers are exposed to a heating cycle to release the combined layers from the surface. The combined layers are then collected, pulverized and mixed with the appropriate solvent for application to the desired component.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite system includes multiple stacked layers of ceramic fiber cloth impregnated with resin matrix material. The resin matrix material in each of the fiber cloth layers substantially remains with the same layer during subsequent processing. Ceramic-containing material inner layers are applied between each of the fiber cloth layers enhancing the cross ply strength of the composite system.

Abstract: An optical coating is applied to an article surface of an article by providing a deposition substrate other than the article surface, wherein the deposition substrate is made of a removable material. The optical coating is thereafter deposited onto the deposition substrate. The optical coating is thereafter transferred to the article surface using a transfer support, which may be the deposition substrate or may be a different piece. The method includes thereafter affixing the optical coating to the article surface, and thereafter removing the transfer support.

Abstract: Coating systems suitable for protecting components exposed to high-temperature environments, such as the hot gas flow path through a gas turbine engine. A multilayer thermal barrier coating (TBC) system characterized by a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and having a heat-absorbing topcoat comprised of the thermal decomposition product of at least one metallic element and at least one ceramic precursor binder component.

Abstract: An optical coating is applied to an article surface of an article by applying a first release system to a deposition substrate, and depositing the optical coating onto the deposition substrate. A second release system and transfer substrate is applied to the second face of the optical coating. The first release system is dissolvable in a first-release-coating solvent that does not dissolve the second release system. The first release system is dissolved in the first-release-coating solvent that does not dissolve the second release system, to separate the optical coating from the deposition substrate. The first face of the optical coating is affixed to the article surface, and the transfer substrate is separated from the optical coating. Any of a variety of affixing techniques may be used.

Abstract: A method of removing a metal oxide from an alloy surface of an article, such as a superalloy turbine blade for a gas turbine engine, by contacting the alloy surface within the vacuum environment of a vacuum chamber with a reductive plasma for a time sufficient to reduce the metal oxide. Typically, the reductive plasma stream is provided by a plasma torch that electrically charges a stream of hydrogen gas, most typically mixed with a much greater portion of an inert gas such as 95% argon, to generate an active plasma stream of H3+ ions. Typically, a biasing circuit is made between the plasma torch and the alloy article to direct the plasma stream to the alloy surface.