Abstract: A titanium electrosurgical instrument, such as a scalpel (20), and electrosurgical devices, e.g., needle (40), and Bovie tips (40), are provided with a silane coating (30) directly against the solid titanium metal (26, 43, 73) of the body tissue-contacting distal ends (24, 47, 70) thereof whereby to impart advantageous non-stick properties thereto.

Abstract: A turbine engine component (10) with a protective aluminide coating (14) that include additions of silicon and a dopant, such as yttrium and/or hafnium, in an amount effective to reduce sulfidation and a deposition process for forming such aluminide coatings (14). A silicon-containing layer (30) may be applied to the superalloy substrate (12) of the component (10) and the aluminide coating (14) formed by exposing component (10) and layer (30) to a vapor phase reactant containing the dopant. The aluminide coating (14), which contains dopant from the layer (30), may operate as a standalone environmental coating or as a bond coating for an optional ceramic thermal barrier layer (24). An optional zirconia layer (26) maybe provided between the aluminide coating (14) and the ceramic thermal barrier layer (24).

Abstract: Methods for cleaning surface deposits, such as sulfidation deposits or dust particles, from a surface bounding an internal passage in a turbine engine component. The surface deposits are cleaned by placing a halogen-containing organic compound, such as a fluorine-containing organic compound, into the internal passage and heating the component and organic compound to chemically react the halogen-containing species in the liquefied and boiling organic compound with the deposits. The temperature is further elevated to vaporize the chemically-modified deposits, which are moved by mass transport through the internal passage and out of the turbine engine component. An optional protective coating, such as a chromium or aluminum coating, may be applied to the cleaned surface of the internal passage.

Abstract: Methods for removing coatings from metal components, such as metal components used in aircraft and other aerospace vehicles and the oil industry. The method may include removing an outer layer of a coating with a first stripping operation, removing an inner layer of the coating with a second stripping operation, and specifying an aqueous bath for either the first stripping process based upon an element in the outer layer or the second stripping process based upon an element in the inner layer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for removing coatings from metal components, such as metal components used in aircraft and other aerospace vehicles and the oil industry, as well as aqueous bath compositions. The metal component may be DC coupled with a counter electrode and immersed in an aqueous bath that includes an active oxygen source and a ligand in a composition effective to remove the coating. The aqueous bath may include hydrogen peroxide as the active oxygen source and may be maintained in a specific pH range if the temperature of the aqueous bath is controlled. In an alternative embodiment, the composition of the aqueous bath may include a non-peroxide active oxygen source, such as sodium perborate, and be maintained in a different specific pH range. An oxygen sensor may be provided to periodically monitor the concentration of active oxygen in the aqueous bath.

Abstract: A metal component (10) with a protective coating (16) containing silicon and a process for forming such protective coatings (14). The protective coating (16) is formed by applying a silicon-containing fluid composition to the metal component (10) as a silicon-containing layer (12) and heating the silicon-containing layer (12) to a temperature exceeding 400° F.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine component (10) with an aluminide coating (42) on at least a portion of an airflow surface (18) that includes a roughening agent (44) effective to provide a desired surface roughness and a deposition process for forming such aluminide coatings (42). A layer (40) including a binder (38) and the roughening agent (44) maybe applied to the superalloy substrate (46) of the component (10) and the aluminide coating (42) formed on the airflow surface portion by exposing the component (10) and layer (40) to an appropriate deposition environment. Suitable roughening agents include metal and ceramic particles (44) that are dispersed on the airflow surface portion before exposure to the deposition environment. The particles (44), which are substantially intact after the aluminide coating (42) is formed, are dispersed in an effective number to supply the desired surface roughness.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system and method for applying an aluminide coating constituted by two or more extrinsic metal components on a jet engine component. The aluminide coating is capable of forming a protective complex oxide upon subsequent heating in an oxidizing environment. At least one of the extrinsic metals in the aluminide coating is provided as a first vapor phase reactant from a receptacle coupled by a closed communication path with the reaction chamber of the CVD system and free of a carrier gas. The aluminide coating is formed by the chemical combination of the first vapor phase reactant with a second vapor phase reactant either created in situ in the reaction chamber or supplied by a carrier gas to the reaction chamber from a precursor source.

Abstract: A turbine engine component (10) with a protective aluminide coating (14) that include additions of silicon and a dopant, such as yttrium and/or hafnium, in an amount effective to reduce sulfidation and a deposition process for forming such aluminide coatings (14). A silicon-containing layer (30) may be applied to the superalloy substrate (12) of the component (10) and the aluminide coating (14) formed by exposing component (10) and layer (30) to a vapor phase reactant containing the dopant. The aluminide coating (14), which contains dopant from the layer (30), may operate as a standalone environmental coating or as a bond coating for an optional ceramic thermal barrier layer (24). An optional zirconia layer (26) maybe provided between the aluminide coating (14) and the ceramic thermal barrier layer (24).

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system and method for applying an aluminide coating constituted by two or more extrinsic metal components on a jet engine component. The aluminide coating is capable of forming a protective complex oxide upon subsequent heating in an oxidizing environment. At least one of the extrinsic metals in the aluminide coating is provided as a first vapor phase reactant from a receptacle coupled by a closed communication path with the reaction chamber of the CVD system and free of a carrier gas. The aluminide coating is formed by the chemical combination of the first vapor phase reactant with a second vapor phase reactant either created in situ in the reaction chamber or supplied by a carrier gas to the reaction chamber from a precursor source.

Abstract: A process is provided for cleaning a surface of an internal cavity of a gas turbine component having sulfidation or sulfur bearing deposits comprising: inserting into the internal cavity a fluoride salt; and heating the fluoride salt and the component in an inert atmosphere for a time and at a temperature to clean the sulfidation or sulfur bearing deposits on the surface. In a preferred embodiment the cleaned internal surface is then coated with a metallic coating.

Abstract: A system and process for cleaning a hollow interior or a passageway of a metal member including an external container having counter electrode material with a higher potential than the metal member with the counter electrode material being dc coupled to the metal member, and electrolyte passing through the container to contact the counter electrode material and fluidicly coupled into the hollow interior or the passageway of the metal member to clean same.

Abstract: A leach column (10) and method for the separation and recovery of metals from mixtures. The column (10) is adapted to be electrically charged to enhance metal recovery. Particularly, a pair of electrical connections (20), (22) are positioned in the column (10) to create an electrical charge in the presence of a leaching solution (18) and a metal-containing mixture (26) to enhance leaching of the metal from the mixture. In an exemplary embodiment, the leach column (10) is used for the recovery of platinum from platinum-containing coatings on jet engine components.

Abstract: A system and process for chemical milling or stripping a surface portion and/or surface deposit from metal products, such as chemically milling a metal to remove surface defects and/or stripping non-metallic deposits from a metal surface. The metal product is associated with an electrolyte, such as by being immersed in a tank filled with the electrolyte, such as a diluted acid mixture. A counter electrode having a higher potential than the metal of the metal product is also associated with the electrolyte. The counter electrode is dc coupled to the metal product, or to a conductive component in direct contact with the metal product, such that electric current flows from the metal to the counter electrode due to the difference in the natural potentials of the metal and the counter electrode. The surface portion or deposit is thereby stripped or milled from the metal product.

Abstract: A deposition process including applying an inoculant to at least a portion of the surface of a metal component, and then forming an intermetallic layer at the inoculant surface, such as by exposing at least the coated surface portion to a deposition environment.

Abstract: Medical devices, such as scalpels (10), needles (30) and electrosurgical knife tips (50), are provided with a silane coating (20) directly against the parent metal (16, 33, 63) of the tissue-contacting (15) distal ends (14, 37, 60) thereof whereby to impart advantageous non-stick and/or conductive properties thereto.

Abstract: A silane coating (32) is provided which affords non-stick properties to a metal surface (20, 22) of a cooking utensil (10) and which can be provided with colorant (42) to impart a stable color appearance, including white, to the utensil (10). An easy repair method is also described.

Abstract: A deposition process including applying an inoculant (50) to at least a portion (12a) of the surface (12) of a metal component (10), and then forming an intermetallic layer (60, 70, 100) at the inoculant surface (12), such as by exposing at least the coated surface portion (12a) to a deposition environment (26).

Abstract: A system and process for cleaning a hollow interior or a passageway of a metal member including an external container having counter electrode material with a higher potential than the metal member with the counter electrode material being dc coupled to the metal member, and electrolyte passing through the container to contact the counter electrode material and fluidicly coupled into the hollow interior or the passageway of the metal member to clean same.

Abstract: A silane coating (32) is provided which affords non-stick properties to a metal surface (20, 22) of a cooking utensil (10) and which can be provided with colorant (42) to impart a stable color appearance, including white, to the utensil (10). An easy repair method is also described.