Oxidation-Induced Self-Healing Ceramic Composition with Healing Activator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional oxidation-induced self-healing ceramics face limitations in enhancing the self-healing function, particularly at lower temperature ranges relevant for high-temperature structural members like aircraft turbine blades, where surface cracks occur due to foreign object damage, and the existing materials lack sufficient strength and reliability.

Innovation Solution

The development of an oxidation-induced self-healing ceramic composition that includes a ceramic matrix, a non-oxide healing agent, and a healing activator, such as SiC and metallic oxides like ZnO, MnO, or Fe2O3, which enhances the diffusion velocity of the oxidation reaction, allowing for faster strength recovery and crack healing at lower temperatures by focusing on the reparative and remodeling phases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional oxidation-induced self-healing ceramics are used, then the self-healing function is achieved at high temperatures (1200°C to 1300°C), but the crack-healing temperature is too high for practical application in turbine blades operating at 600°C to 1200°C

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrack-healing temperatureVSAvoidself-healing function effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ceramic system by introducing specific oxide additives (Y2O3, Nb2O5, Ta2O5) to modify the phase transformation characteristics and lower the crack-healing temperature from 1200-1300°C to the 600-1200°C range suitable for turbine blade operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite ceramic system combining the base ceramic matrix with healing agents (SiC, B4C) and oxide additives, forming a multi-component composite that enables low-temperature self-healing while maintaining structural integrity at operating temperatures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If the oxidation reaction velocity is increased to enhance strength recovery, then the self-healing speed improves, but the temperature required for oxidation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength recovery velocityVSAvoidoxidation temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the kinetic parameters of the oxidation reaction by adding oxide catalysts that lower the activation energy, enabling fast strength recovery at reduced temperatures through modified reaction pathways

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The oxide additives (Y2O3, Nb2O5, Ta2O5) act as intermediaries that facilitate the oxidation reaction of healing agents at lower temperatures, mediating between the healing agent and oxygen to enable controlled, rapid healing without high temperature requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If high-temperature oxidation is used for crack healing, then the self-healing function is activated, but the application range is limited to temperatures above 1200°C

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveself-healing functionVSAvoidtemperature range applicability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the operational temperature parameter by introducing oxide additives that enable the self-healing reaction to proceed at 600-1200°C, expanding the applicability range to match turbine blade operating conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal self-healing ceramic composition that can function across a broad temperature range (600-1200°C), making it adaptable to various high-temperature structural applications beyond just turbine blades

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This approach significantly enhances the strength recovery velocity and lowers the crack-healing temperature, enabling effective self-healing in the temperature range of 600°C to 1200°C, thereby improving the reliability and durability of high-temperature structural members like turbine blades.

Implementation Method 1

the healing activator is a substance enhancing a diffusion velocity of a substance determining a velocity of an oxidation reaction of the healing agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

a non-oxide which is dispersed in a ceramic matrix and which has a high activity for oxidation in the high-temperature air is subjected to the reaction of high-temperature oxidation, with the occurrence of a crack during service as a trigger, with oxygen in the air which exists outside the crack

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

the oxide produced by the high-temperature oxidation autonomously fills and bonds the crack to recover the strength completely

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-healing:

Data Source

PatentEP3312151B1Oxidation-induced self-healing ceramic composition containing healing activator, method for producing same, use of same, and method for enhancing functionality of oxidation-induced self-healing ceramic composition
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 NAT INST FOR MATERIALS SCI
  • EP3312151B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3312151B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3312151B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

The present invention addresses the problem of newly providing an oxidation-induced highly-functional self-healing ceramic composition, a method for producing the ceramic composition, a use of the ceramic composition and a method for achieving the enhancement of the functionality of the ceramic composition, by focusing on a repairing stage and a remodeling state in a self-healing process and by carrying out elemental and structural designing of an oxidation-induced self-healing ceramic composition for the purpose of speeding up these stages, unlike the conventional oxidation-induced self-healing ceramic compositions which are developed by focusing on an inflammation stage in the self-healing process. According to the present invention, an oxidation-induced self-healing ceramic composition is provided, which comprises a ceramic base material, an oxidation-active non-oxide-type healing agent dispersed in the base material, and a healing activator, wherein the healing agent is a substance capable of generating an oxide upon the contact with external oxygen resulting from the occurrence of cracking of the ceramic composition, and the healing activator is a substance capable of speeding up the diffusion of a substance that is used for controlling the velocity of the oxidation reaction of the healing agent.