CMAS Mitigation Layer in Environmental Barrier Coatings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) for ceramic components in gas turbine engines are susceptible to degradation due to the formation of calcium magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) deposits, which react with BSAS at high temperatures, leading to material loss and reduced component life.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a CMAS mitigation composition, specifically Lna4Ga2O9, as a separate or integrated layer within the EBC, where Lna refers to rare earth elements like lanthanum, cerium, and gadolinium, to prevent degradation by CMAS deposits, either as a discrete refractory particle or grain boundary phase, within the coating structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional three-layer EBC system (bond coat, transition layer, outer layer) is used for ceramic components in high temperature sections, then the component achieves basic environmental protection and hermetic sealing, but the coating degrades over time due to reaction with CMAS deposits formed in the combustion environment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating durabilityVSAvoidcomponent service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The EBC system is divided into multiple functional layers: a bond coat layer for adhesion, a transition layer (comprising at least one layer) for gradual property transition, and an outer layer for environmental protection. This segmentation allows each layer to address specific degradation mechanisms, with the transition layer specifically designed to resist CMAS penetration and reaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transition layer is formulated as a composite material containing BSAS (barium strontium aluminosilicate) and rare earth disilicate particles. This composite composition provides both mechanical integrity and chemical resistance to CMAS, creating a barrier that prevents the harmful reaction between CMAS and the substrate while maintaining the hermetic seal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Loss of substance

If the EBC is designed to be hermetic to prevent gas penetration, then material loss is reduced, but mechanical stress from thermal expansion mismatch between coating and substrate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial lossVSAvoidthermal expansion stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

Different layers of the EBC are designed with different porosity characteristics. The transition layer is formulated with controlled porosity that provides both hermetic sealing properties and mechanical compliance. This local quality variation allows the coating to maintain its seal while accommodating thermal expansion differences between the ceramic substrate and metal bond coat through the gradual property transition in the intermediate layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The CMAS mitigation composition effectively prevents the reaction of CMAS with the EBC, reducing material loss and maintaining the hermetic seal, thereby extending the life and performance of ceramic components in high-temperature environments.

Implementation Method 1

The CMAS mitigation composition effectively prevents the reaction of CMAS with the EBC, reducing material loss and maintaining the hermetic seal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical resistance:

Implementation Method 2

EBCs can provide a dense, hermetic seal against the corrosive gases in the hot combustion environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHermetic sealing:

Implementation Method 3

the silicon oxide reacts rapidly with high temperature steam, such as found in gas turbine engines, to form volatile silicon species. This oxidation/volatilization process can result in significant material loss, or recession

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVolatilization:

Implementation Method 4

aluminum oxide reacts with high temperature steam to form volatile aluminum species as well

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVolatilization:

Data Source

PatentEP2379773B1CMAS mitigation compositions, environmental barrier coatings comprising the same, and ceramic components comprising the same
Publication Date: 2020.10.28 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
  • EP2379773B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2379773B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2379773B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Calcium magnesium aluminosilcate (CMAS) mitigation compositions selected from zinc aluminate spinel, alkaline earth zirconates, alkaline earth hafnates, rare earth gallates, beryl, and combinations thereof wherein the CMAS mitigation composition is included as a separate CMAS mitigation layer in an environmental barrier coating for a high temperature substrate component.