High-Temperature Coating Behaviors

Thermal barrier coatings are thin ceramic layers applied to the metal components of gas turbine engines to shield them from the extreme heat generated during combustion, allowing engines to operate at temperatures that would otherwise degrade or destroy the underlying alloy. Research in this area examines how materials like rare-earth zirconates behave when deposited through processes such as plasma spraying or cold spray, probing the atomic and microstructural mechanisms that govern how well a coating bonds, conducts heat, and resists oxidation and corrosion over thousands of hours of service. Because even modest improvements in coating durability translate directly into greater fuel efficiency and longer engine lifespans, the stakes for getting the chemistry and deposition physics right are substantial. Active lines of inquiry center on finding alternative ceramic compositions that remain stable at ever-higher operating temperatures and on understanding how microstructural changes that accumulate during thermal cycling eventually lead to coating failure.

Works

56,437

Total citations

801,690

Keywords

Thermal Barrier CoatingsGas Turbine EnginesCold Spray DepositionHigh-Temperature CorrosionPlasma SprayingRare-Earth Zirconates