Abstract: A coated article including an article having a surface; an oxidation resistant bond coat layer deposited on the surface, the oxidation resistant bond coat layer comprising a healing silica matrix and at least one oxygen scavenger forming a metal silicide network dispersed within the healing silica matrix; and a top coat layer disposed upon the oxidation resistant bond coat layer, whereby the oxidation resistant bond coat layer is operable to seal a crack in the top coat layer.

Abstract: A coated article including an article having a surface; an oxidation resistant bond coat layer deposited on the surface, the oxidation resistant bond coat layer comprising a healing silica matrix and at least one oxygen scavenger forming a metal silicide network dispersed within the healing silica matrix; and a top coat layer disposed upon the oxidation resistant bond coat layer, whereby the oxidation resistant bond coat layer is operable to seal a crack in the top coat layer.

Abstract: A nanocomposite optical ceramic (NCOC) material. The material having a first solid phase, a second solid phase, and a third solid phase. The first solid phase has first solid phase grains no larger than 5 ?m, and each first solid phase grain has a first solid phase grain boundary. The second solid phase has second solid phase grains no larger than 5 ?m, and each second solid phase grain has a second solid phase grain boundary. The third solid phase has a doping agent. The doping agent is less than 5 atomic % soluble in the first solid phase and the second solid phase. At least part of the third solid phase is situated at the second solid phase grain boundary.

Abstract: In one aspect, a calcium-magnesium alumino-silicate (CMAS)-resistant coating includes an outer coating having a plurality of columnar structures formed during material deposition due to preferential material accumulation and a plurality of generally vertically-oriented gaps separating adjacent columnar structures. The columnar structures include a plurality of randomly-oriented particle splats and a CMAS-reactive material and have a total porosity of less than five percent. The plurality of generally vertically-oriented gaps extend from an outermost surface of the outer coating to a first depth of the outer coating equal to or less than a total thickness of the outer coating. The vertically-oriented gaps have a median gap width of less than five micrometers.

Abstract: A method of infiltrating a fiber structure with a coating and a matrix material includes connecting a wave guide to a fiber structure comprising a plurality of fibers, applying vibration to the fiber structure to separate adjacent fibers at contact points, and depositing a coating on a surface of each of the fibers including contact point surfaces where adjacent fibers have been separated.

Abstract: A method of producing an enhanced ceramic matrix composite includes applying a tackifier compound to a fiber preform. The tackifier compound includes inorganic filler particles. The method further includes modifying the tackifier compound such that the inorganic filler particles remain interspersed throughout the fiber preform, and occupy pores of fiber preform.

Abstract: A strain-tolerant coating for use in gas turbine engines can include a plurality of dense, generally vertically-oriented columnar structures formed during deposition by preferential material accumulation, and a plurality of inter-columnar gaps separating the columnar structures. The columnar structures can include a plurality of randomly-oriented particle splats and can have a porosity of less than four percent.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a ceramic matrix composite includes generating a stream of vaporized precursor and, optionally, a vaporized rare earth element. The vaporized precursor is a precursor of either silicon carbide or silicon nitride. The stream flows for one or more periods of time through a chamber that contains a fibrous structure such that the fibrous structure is exposed to the stream. The fibrous structure initially contains no silicon carbide matrix or silicon nitride matrix. The vaporized precursor deposits over the period of time on the fibrous structure as a substantially fully dense ceramic matrix of either the silicon carbide or the silicon nitride. For at least a portion of the period of time, the vaporized rare earth element is included in the stream such that the ceramic matrix deposited during that time includes dispersed rare earth element.

Abstract: A method of infiltrating a fiber structure with a coating and a matrix material includes connecting a wave guide to a fiber structure comprising a plurality of fibers, applying vibration to the fiber structure to separate adjacent fibers at contact points, and depositing a coating on a surface of each of the fibers including contact point surfaces where adjacent fibers have been separated.

Abstract: A method of producing an enhanced ceramic matrix composite includes applying a tackifier compound to a fiber preform. The tackifier compound includes inorganic filler particles. The method further includes modifying the tackifier compound such that the inorganic filler particles remain interspersed throughout the fiber preform, and occupy pores of fiber preform.

Abstract: A coated article including an article having a surface; an oxidation resistant bond coat layer deposited on the surface, the oxidation resistant bond coat layer comprising a healing silica matrix and at least one oxygen scavenger forming a metal silicide network dispersed within the healing silica matrix; and a top coat layer disposed upon the oxidation resistant bond coat layer, whereby the oxidation resistant bond coat layer is operable to seal a crack in the top coat layer.

Abstract: A method for coating a substrate includes suspension plasma spraying of a size distribution of a ceramic powder of essentially uniform chemical composition to form a first ceramic layer. The size distribution has a trough spanning a transition size for powder behavior of gas-flow trajectories of smaller particles and ballistic trajectories of larger particles.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a ceramic matrix composite includes generating a stream of vaporized precursor and, optionally, a vaporized rare earth element. The vaporized precursor is a precursor of either silicon carbide or silicon nitride. The stream flows for one or more periods of time through a chamber that contains a fibrous structure such that the fibrous structure is exposed to the stream. The fibrous structure initially contains no silicon carbide matrix or silicon nitride matrix. The vaporized precursor deposits over the period of time on the fibrous structure as a substantially fully dense ceramic matrix of either the silicon carbide or the silicon nitride. For at least a portion of the period of time, the vaporized rare earth element is included in the stream such that the ceramic matrix deposited during that time includes dispersed rare earth element.

Abstract: In one aspect, a calcium-magnesium alumino-silicate (CMAS)-resistant coating includes an outer coating having a plurality of columnar structures formed during material deposition due to preferential material accumulation and a plurality of generally vertically-oriented gaps separating adjacent columnar structures. The columnar structures include a plurality of randomly-oriented particle splats and a CMAS-reactive material and have a total porosity of less than five percent. The plurality of generally vertically-oriented gaps extend from an outermost surface of the outer coating to a first depth of the outer coating equal to or less than a total thickness of the outer coating. The vertically-oriented gaps have a median gap width of less than five micrometers.