Abstract: A display system for an automotive vehicle indicates the position of a throttle valve.

Abstract: Thermal barrier coating systems for use with hot section components of a gas turbine engine include an inner layer overlying a bond coated substrate and a top layer overlying at least a portion of the inner layer. The inner layer includes a thermal barrier material such as yttria-stabilized zirconia. The top layer includes a rare earth aluminate. The thicknesses and microstructures of the layers may be varied depending on the type of component to be coated. Articles incorporating the thermal barrier coating system exhibit improved resistance to CMAS infiltration.

Abstract: A diffusion barrier coating includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a composition selected from the group consisting of a solid-solution alloy comprising rhenium and ruthenium wherein the ruthenium comprises about 50 atom % or less of the composition and where a total amount of rhenium and ruthenium is greater than 70 atom %; an intermetallic compound including at least one of Ru(TaAl) and Ru2TaAl, where Ru(TaAl) has a B2 structure and Ru2TaAl has a Heusler structure; and an oxide dispersed in a metallic matrix wherein greater than about 50 volume percent of the matrix comprises the oxide.

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: 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: Thermal barrier coating systems for use with hot section components of a gas turbine engine include an inner layer overlying a bond coated substrate and a top layer overlying at least a portion of the inner layer. The inner layer includes a thermal barrier material such as yttria-stabilized zirconia. The top layer includes a rare earth aluminate. The thicknesses and microstructures of the layers may be varied depending on the type of component to be coated.

Abstract: Methods for providing improved resistance to CMAS infiltration for hot section components of a gas turbine engine. Exemplary methods include coating a substrate with a thermal barrier coating system by overlying a bond coated substrate with an inner thermal barrier layer comprised of a thermal barrier material such as yttria-stabilized zirconia. A top layer, including a rare-earth aluminate, is deposited so as to overlie at least a portion of the inner layer. Deposition processes and coating thicknesses may be tailored to the type of component to be coated.

Abstract: A display system for an automotive vehicle indicates the position of a throttle valve.

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: A method for applying a NiAl based bond coat and a diffusion aluminide coating to a metal substrate comprises, in part, coating a portion of the external surface of the superalloy substrate, by physical vapor deposition with a layer of a NiAl based metal alloy, wherein the deposited NiAl based metal alloy includes a controlled amount of about 6 to 25 weight percent aluminum, wherein the deposited aluminum level of the NiAl based metal alloy is controlled to be about 50-100% of its final level after aluminizing to form a coated external portion; and subsequently, simultaneously aluminizing the coated external portion and a different surface of the superalloy substrate.

Abstract: A process for protecting a thermal barrier coating. The process entails applying to a surface of the coating a liquid containing one or more of aluminum alkoxides, aluminum beta-diketonates, aluminum carboxylates, and aluminum alkyls. The liquid is applied so as to form a liquid film on the surface, and has viscosity and wetting properties that cause the liquid to infiltrate porosity within the coating beneath its surface. The coating is then heated to convert the alumina precursor to alumina. A first portion of the alumina forms a surface deposit on the coating surface, while a second portion of the alumina forms an internal deposit within the porosity of the coating. The surface deposit overlying the coating is available for sacrificial reaction with CMAS, and the internal deposit maintains a level of CMAS protection in the event the surface deposit is breached or lost through spallation, erosion, and/or consumption.

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: 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: The present invention discloses a passenger vehicle having a multi-position tailgate. The tailgate may be opened from a driver side or a passenger side. A retractable table for a tailgate is disclosed. The tailgate may also be opened in a third orientation, extending generally horizontally from the vehicle. A method for operating the tailgate is also disclosed.

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: 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: 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 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.