Abstract: An electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) apparatus for producing a coating material (e.g., a ceramic thermal barrier coating) on an article. The EBPVD apparatus generally includes a coating chamber that is operable at elevated temperatures and subatmospheric pressures. An electron beam gun projects an electron beam into the coating chamber through an aperture in a wall of the chamber and onto a coating material within a coating region defined within the chamber, causing the coating material to melt and evaporate. An article is supported within the coating chamber so that vapors of the coating material deposit on the article. The operation of the EBPVD apparatus is enhanced by the inclusion within the coating chamber of a second chamber that encloses the aperture so as to separate the aperture from the coating region. The second chamber is maintained at a pressure lower than the coating region.

Abstract: A bond coat process for thermal barrier coatings. The method includes, after cleaning and masking the external surface of the substrate, first applying a layer of NiCrZr alloy to the external surface of the substrate using a sputter coat or other suitable process. Aluminum is then applied to the substrate, using either a vapor phase aluminization (VPA) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, wherein aluminum diffuses into the NiCrZr alloy layer wherein a diffusion layer is formed by the aluminum with the substrate material on the internal surface of the substrate. The coated substrate may then be subjected to a heat treatment in a protective atmosphere to further allow diffusion of the aluminide into the NiAlCrZr diffusion layer. The substantially Al outer layers of the NiAlCrZr diffusion layer, and the diffusion aluminide layer, will provide an aluminum source for the surface, which will oxidize to form a tightly adherent aluminum scale.

Abstract: A coating material for a component intended for use in a hostile thermal environment. The coating material has a cubic microstructure and consists essentially of either zirconia stabilized by dysprosia, erbia, gadolinium oxide, neodymia, samarium oxide or ytterbia, or hafnia stabilized by dysprosia, gadolinium oxide, samarium oxide, yttria or ytterbia. Up to five weight percent yttria may be added to the coating material.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coatings for the underlying substrate of articles that operate at, or are exposed to, high temperatures. The thermal barrier coating includes a zirconia-containing upper layer wherein the zirconia is stabilized in the cubic crystalline phase to reduce the thermal conductivity of the coating. The thermal barrier coating further includes a zirconia-containing lower layer stabilized in the tetragonal crystalline phase that increases the adherence of the upper layer to the bond coat layer that overlies the substrate of the article to improve the resistance of the coating to spallation.

Abstract: A reduced thermal conductivity thermal barrier coating having improved impact and erosion resistance for an underlying metal substrate of articles that operate at, or are exposed to, high temperatures. This coating comprises an inner layer nearest to the underlying metal substrate comprising a ceramic thermal barrier coating material, as well as a protective outer layer adjacent to and overlaying the inner layer and having an exposed surface. The outer layer has a thickness up to about 5 mils (127 microns) sufficient to impart impact and erosion resistance to the thermal barrier coating, and comprises a zirconia-containing ceramic composition having a c/a ratio of the zirconia lattice in the range of from about 1.011 to about 1.016 and stabilized in the tetragonal phase by a stabilizing amount of a stabilizing metal oxide selected from the group consisting of yttria, calcia, ceria, scandia, magnesia, india, ytterbia and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) apparatus and a method for using the apparatus to produce a coating material (e.g., a ceramic thermal barrier coating) on an article. The EBPVD apparatus generally includes a coating chamber that is operable at elevated temperatures and subatmospheric pressures. An electron beam gun projects an electron beam into the coating chamber and onto a coating material within the chamber, causing the coating material to melt and evaporate. An article is supported within the coating chamber so that vapors of the coating material deposit on the article. The operation of the EBPVD apparatus is enhanced by the inclusion or adaptation of one or more mechanical and/or process modifications, including those necessary or beneficial when operating the apparatus at coating pressures above 0.010 mbar.

Abstract: Zirconia-containing ceramic compositions having a c/a ratio of the zirconia lattice in the range of from about 1.005 to about 1.016. These compositions comprise a stabilizing amount up to about 10 mole % of the composition of a stabilizer component which comprises: (1) a first metal oxide selected from the group consisting of yttria, calcia, ceria, scandia, magnesia, india and mixtures thereof in an amount of from about 1.5 to about 6 mole % of the composition of; (2) a second metal oxide selected from the group consisting of lanthana, neodymia and mixtures thereof in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 4 mole % of the composition; and (3) optionally ytterbia in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 4 mole % of the composition. These compositions further comprise hafnia in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 15 mole % of the composition; and optionally tantala in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 1.5 mole % of the composition.

Abstract: An article protected by a thermal barrier coating system includes a substrate having a substrate surface, and a thermal barrier coating system overlying the substrate. The thermal barrier coating system has a thermal barrier coating formed of a thermal barrier coating material arranged as a plurality of columnar grains extending generally perpendicular to the substrate surface and having grain surfaces. A sintering inhibitor is within the columnar grains, either uniformly distributed or concentrated at the grain surfaces. The sintering inhibitor is lanthanum oxide, lanthanum chromate, chromium oxide, and/or yttrium chromate, mixtures thereof, mixtures thereof with aluminum oxide, modifications thereof wherein cobalt or manganese is substituted for chromium, precursors thereof, and reaction products thereof.

Abstract: An electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) apparatus and a method for using the apparatus to produce a coating material (e.g., a ceramic thermal barrier coating) on an article. The EBPVD apparatus generally includes a coating chamber that is operable at elevated temperatures and subatmospheric pressures. An electron beam gun projects an electron beam into the coating chamber and onto a coating material within the chamber, causing the coating material to melt and evaporate. An article is supported within the coating chamber so that vapors of the coating material deposit on the article. The operation of the EBPVD apparatus is enhanced by the shape and intensity of the electron beam pattern on the coating material and on a crucible containing the molten coating material.

Abstract: An article protected by a thermal barrier coating system is fabricated by providing an article substrate having a substrate surface, thereafter depositing a bond coat on the substrate surface, the bond coat having a bond coat surface, and thereafter processing the bond coat to flatten the bond coat surface. A thermal barrier coating is deposited overlying the bond coat surface. The thermal barrier coating is yttria-stabilized zirconia having a yttria content of from about 3 percent by weight to about 5 percent by weight of the yttria-stabilized zirconia.

Abstract: A coating material for a component intended for use in a hostile thermal environment. The coating material has a cubic microstructure and consists essentially of either zirconia stabilized by dysprosia, erbia, gadolinium oxide, neodymia, samarium oxide or ytterbia, or hafnia stabilized by dysprosia, gadolinium oxide, samarium oxide, yttria or ytterbia. Up to five weight percent yttria may be added to the coating material.

Abstract: A coating material, particularly a thermal barrier coating, for a component intended for use in a hostile environment, such as the superalloy turbine, combustor and augmentor components of a gas turbine engine. The coating material is zirconia that is stabilized with yttria and to which an oxide additive of niobia or titania is alloyed to reduce and stabilize the thermal conductivity of the coating.

Abstract: An electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) apparatus and a method for using the apparatus to produce a coating material (e.g., a ceramic thermal barrier coating) on an article. The EBPVD apparatus generally includes a coating chamber that is operable at elevated temperatures and subatmospheric pressures. An electron beam gun projects an electron beam into the coating chamber and onto a coating material within the chamber, causing the coating material to melt and evaporate. An article is supported within the coating chamber so that vapors of the coating material deposit on the article. The operation of the EBPVD apparatus is enhanced by the inclusion or adaptation of one or more mechanical and/or process modifications, including those necessary or beneficial when operating the apparatus at coating pressures above 0.010 mbar.

Abstract: A coating material, particularly a thermal barrier coating, for a component intended for use in a hostile environment, such as the superalloy turbine, combustor and augmentor components of a gas turbine engine. The coating material is zirconia that is partially stabilized with yttria and to which lanthana, neodymia and/or tantala are alloyed to increase the impact resistance of the coating.

Abstract: A coating material, particularly a thermal barrier coating, for a component intended for use in a hostile environment, such as the superalloy turbine, combustor and augmentor components of a gas turbine engine. The coating material is zirconia that is stabilized with yttria and to which an oxide additive of niobia or titania is alloyed to reduce and stabilize the thermal conductivity of the coating.

Abstract: An article protected by a thermal barrier coating system is fabricated by providing an article substrate having a substrate surface; and thereafter producing a pre-oxidized bond coat on the substrate surface by depositing a bond coat on the substrate surface, the bond coat having a bond coat surface, and controllably oxidizing the bond coat surface to form a pre-oxidized bond coat surface. A thermal barrier coating is thereafter deposited overlying the pre-oxidized bond coat surface. The thermal barrier coating is yttria-stabilized zirconia having a yttria content of from about 3 percent by weight to about 5 percent by weight of the yttria-stabilized zirconia.

Abstract: An electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) apparatus and a method for using the apparatus to produce a coating material (e.g., a ceramic thermal barrier coating) on an article. The EBPVD apparatus generally includes a coating chamber that is operable at elevated temperatures and subatmospheric pressures. An electron beam gun projects an electron beam into the coating chamber and onto a coating material within the chamber, causing the coating material to melt and evaporate. An article is supported within the coating chamber so that vapors of the coating material deposit on the article. The operation of the EBPVD apparatus is enhanced by the inclusion of a crucible that supports the coating material and is configured to be efficiently cooled so as to reduce the rate at which the process temperature increases within the coating chamber.

Abstract: An article protected by a thermal barrier coating system includes a substrate having a substrate surface, and a thermal barrier coating system overlying the substrate. The thermal barrier coating system has a thermal barrier coating formed of a thermal barrier coating material arranged as a plurality of columnar grains extending generally perpendicular to the substrate surface and having grain surfaces. A sintering inhibitor is within the columnar grains, either uniformly distributed or concentrated at the grain surfaces. The sintering inhibitor is lanthanum oxide, lanthanum chromate, chromium oxide, and/or yttrium chromate, mixtures thereof, mixtures thereof with aluminum oxide, modifications thereof wherein cobalt or manganese is substituted for chromium, precursors thereof, and reaction products thereof.

Abstract: An article protected by a thermal barrier coating system is fabricated by providing an article substrate having a substrate surface, thereafter depositing a bond coat on the substrate surface, the bond coat having a bond coat surface, and thereafter processing the bond coat to flatten the bond coat surface. A thermal barrier coating is deposited overlying the bond coat surface. The thermal barrier coating is yttria-stabilized zirconia having a yttria content of from about 3 percent by weight to about 5 percent by weight of the yttria-stabilized zirconia.

Abstract: An article having a substrate is protected by a thermal barrier coating system. An interfacial layer contacts the upper surface of the substrate. The interfacial layer may comprise a bond coat only, or a bond coat and an overlay coat. The interfacial layer has on its upper surface a preselected, controllable pattern of three-dimensional features, such as grooves in a parallel array or in two angularly offset arrays. The features are formed by an ablation process using an ultraviolet laser such as an excimer laser. A ceramic thermal barrier coating is deposited over the pattern of features on the upper surface of the interfacial layer.