CMC Environmental Barrier Coating Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-temperature components like jet engine turbine components face delamination issues due to poor adhesion between multilayer coatings in thermal cycles, compromising oxidation resistance and water vapor resistance in high-temperature gas environments containing water vapor.

Innovation Solution

A ceramic matrix composite component is coated with a silicon carbide layer, a silicon layer, and a mixed layer of mullite and ytterbium silicate, followed by an oxide layer, with specific thickness ranges and deposition methods to improve adhesion and grade thermal expansion coefficients, reducing delamination and enhancing oxidation and water vapor resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a multilayer coating is applied to provide oxidation resistance and water vapor resistance, then the component's resistance to oxidation and water vapor is improved, but the coating may delaminate due to poor adhesion between layers or cyclic thermal stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidation resistance and water vapor resistanceVSAvoidcoating adhesion and delamination resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite multilayer coating structure consisting of an environmental barrier layer, a transition layer with specific oxide content (5-50 wt%), and a top coat. This composite structure resolves the adhesion problem by creating intermediate layers with graded compositions that bridge the substrate and the outer coating, thereby maintaining both protection performance and structural stability under thermal cycling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The transition layer is designed with localized quality control by specifying oxide content within 5-50 wt%, creating a gradient composition that differs from both the environmental barrier layer and the top coat. This local variation in material properties addresses the adhesion issue at the interface regions without compromising the overall coating functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the coating layers are made with uniform composition to simplify manufacturing, then the manufacturing process is easier, but the coating may still delaminate due to mismatched thermal expansion coefficients between layers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidthermal stress resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the oxide content in the transition layer within 5-50 wt%, which modifies the thermal expansion coefficient of this layer. This parameter adjustment creates a gradient that accommodates thermal expansion differences between layers, reducing thermal stresses during cyclic heating and cooling while maintaining manufacturability through a defined composition range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 described coating configuration significantly reduces delamination and improves oxidation and water vapor resistance, even under prolonged exposure to high-temperature environments with thermal cycles, as demonstrated by water vapor exposure and burner rig tests.

Implementation Method 1

the silicon carbide layer, the silicon layer, and the mixed layer are thermal sprayed coatings

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal spray: Plasma Spray

Implementation Method 2

the silicon carbide layer is a chemical vapor deposition coating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical vapor deposition: Chemical Vapour Deposition

Implementation Method 3

the respective coefficients of thermal expansion of the layers are graded from the substrate toward the oxide layer to relieve cyclic thermal stresses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP2857193B1Ceramic matrix composite component coated with environmental barrier coatings and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 IHI CORP
  • EP2857193B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2857193B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2857193B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A ceramic matrix composite component (10) coated with environmental barrier coatings includes a substrate (12) formed of a silicide-containing ceramic matrix composite, a silicon carbide layer (14) deposited on a surface of the substrate (12), a silicon layer (16) deposited on a surface of the silicon carbide layer (14), a mixed layer (18) made of a mixture of mullite and ytterbium silicate and deposited on a surface of the silicon layer (16), and an oxide layer (20) deposited on a surface of the mixed layer (18).