Mullite NOSC Bondcoat for High-Temperature EBC Oxidation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) for ceramic components, such as silicon carbide and silicon nitride, face limitations due to the low melting point of silicon bondcoats, which restrict operational temperatures and lead to delamination at high temperatures, causing blistering and spallation due to oxygen penetration and carbonaceous/nitrous oxide gas accumulation.

Innovation Solution

A mullite/NOSC bondcoat is introduced, comprising a non-oxide silicon ceramic phase within a mullite phase, with a volume ratio of 60% to 95% mullite and 5% to 40% NOSC, which acts as a sacrificial layer to prevent oxygen penetration and allow gaseous oxides to escape, thereby preventing substrate oxidation and extending the operational temperature limit to 1650 °C.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a silicon bondcoat is used to prevent substrate oxidation, then oxidation resistance is improved, but the operational temperature limit is reduced due to low melting point

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidation resistanceVSAvoidoperational temperature limit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining mullite (a high-temperature stable ceramic) with silicon carbide particles to create a bondcoat composite. This composite structure allows the coating to maintain oxidation protection through silicon carbide while the mullite matrix provides high-temperature structural stability up to 1650°C, resolving the contradiction between oxidation resistance and temperature limit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental material parameter from pure silicon (melting point 1414°C) to a mullite-silicon carbide composite system. This parameter change in material composition transforms the melting behavior, eliminating the low-temperature melting issue while preserving oxidation protection mechanisms through controlled silicon carbide oxidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a dense EBC is used to seal out water vapor, then recession resistance is improved, but oxygen penetration occurs causing blistering and spallation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecession resistanceVSAvoidblistering and spallation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies porous materials by incorporating controlled porosity into the EBC structure. This porous architecture allows gaseous oxidation products (CO, CO2, NO, NO2) to escape through the coating without building up pressure that would cause blistering, while the overall dense structure maintains water vapor seal. The porosity resolves the contradiction between recession protection and gas venting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the mullite bondcoat as an intermediary layer between the substrate and EBC. This intermediate layer serves as a controlled oxidation zone where gaseous products can form and escape laterally through the porous EBC, preventing the harmful accumulation that would otherwise cause blistering and spallation of the outer coating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the EBC structure is made more complex to prevent blistering, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblistering resistanceVSAvoidcoating structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the bondcoat (mullite with silicon carbide particles) to inherently provide blistering resistance. This compositional parameter change creates a system where controlled oxidation and gas escape occur naturally through the material properties, eliminating the need for complex multi-layer EBC structures designed specifically to prevent blistering.

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 mullite/NOSC bondcoat effectively prevents substrate oxidation, allows gaseous oxides to vent, and maintains structural integrity, reducing blistering and spallation, thus enabling higher operational temperatures without delamination, making it suitable for high-temperature applications like gas turbine engines.

Implementation Method 1

The carbonaceous (i.e., CO, CO 2 ) or nitrous (i.e., NO, NO 2 , etc.) oxide gases cannot escape out through the dense EBC and thus, blisters form

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

The carbonaceous (i.e., CO, CO 2 ) or nitrous (i.e., NO, NO 2 , etc.) oxide gases cannot escape out through the dense EBC

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEffusion: Effusion

Implementation Method 3

The silicon bondcoat provides a layer that oxidizes (forming a passive silicon oxide layer beneath the EBC) without liberating a gaseous by-product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 4

a mullite/NOSC bondcoat on the surface of the substrate... extending the operational temperature limit to 1650 °C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefractory material: Refractory Material

Data Source

PatentEP3670479B1Environmental barrier coating with mullite bondcoat comprising a non-oxide silicon ceramic
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
  • EP3670479B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3670479B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3670479B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A coated component (100), along with a method of making the same, is provided. The coated component (100) includes a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) substrate (102) comprising silicon carbide and having a surface (103); a mullite/nosc bondcoat (104) on the surface (103) of the substrate (102); and an environmental barrier coating on the mullite/nosc bondcoat (104). The mullite/nosc bondcoat (104) comprises a non-oxide silicon ceramic (NOSC) phase contained within a mullite phase (112), with the mullite/nosc bondcoat (104) comprising 60% to 95% by volume of the mullite phase (112), such as 65% to 93% by volume of the mullite phase (112).