Thermal barrier coatings for industrial gas turbine applications: An industrial note

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) have been used in high-thrust aircraft engines for many years to pro-vide thermal protection and increase engine efficiencies. TBC life requirements for aircraft engines are typically less than those required for industrial gas turbines. This paper describes current and future ap-plications of TBCs in industrial gas turbine engines. Early testing and applications of TBCs are reviewed. Areas of concern from the engine designer’s and materials engineer’s perspective are identified and evaluated. This paper focuses on the key factors that are expected to influence utilization of TBCs in ad-vanced industrial gas turbine engines. It is anticipated that reliable, durable, and highly effective coating systems will be produced that will ultimately improve engine efficiency and performance.     

Overview of thermal barrier coatings in diesel engines

An understanding of delamination mechanisms in thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) has been developed for diesel engine applications through rig tests, structural analysis modeling, nondestructive evaluation, and engine evaluation of various TBCs. This knowledge has resulted in improved TBCs that survive se-vere cyclic fatigue tests in high-output diesel engines. Although much conflicting literature now exists regarding the impact of TBCs on engine performance and fuel consumption, changes in fuel consumption appear to be less than a few percent and can be nega-tive for state-of-the-art diesel engines. The ability of the TBC to improve fuel economy depends on a num-ber of factors, including the fuel injection system, combustion chamber design, and initial engine fuel economy. Limited investigations on state-of-the-art diesel engines have indicated that surface- connected porosity and coating surface roughness may influence engine fuel economy. Current research efforts on TBCs are primarily directed at reduction of in-cylinder heat rejection, ther-mal fatigue protection of underlying metal surfaces, and possible reduction of diesel engine emissions. Significant efforts are still required to improve the plasma spray processing capability and the economics for complex-geometry diesel engine components.     

等离子工艺热障涂层的热疲劳分析

热障涂层作为先进的热防护技术,在航空发动机热端部件上有重要的应用,它与先进气膜冷却技术、先进单晶合金材料技术并称为航空发动机涡轮叶片三大关键技术。为了保证发动机安全可靠地工作,研究并测试热障涂层的力学参数和热疲劳特性是其工程应用的前提与基础。本文以等离子喷涂工艺制备的热障涂层为研究对象,利用共振原理和复合梁理论,获得了热障涂层表层一陶瓷层从常温到1150℃高温条件下的杨氏模量。同时,鉴于热障涂层的热疲劳失效模式为剥落,着重对热障涂层的热疲劳特性进行研究。以带热障涂层的圆管试样为模拟件进行了热疲劳试验,试验载荷选择50℃／1050℃的梯形波。利用所测试的材料参数和有限元方法进行了热变形分析,提取了热疲劳寿命控制参量,对模拟试样的热疲劳寿命进行了预测,结果显示,预测结果较为精确。     

热障涂层在飞机APU中的应用、失效形式与维护方法

飞机辅助动力装置（Auxiliary Power Unit,APU）是当前主流民用飞机上必不可少的部件,而热障涂层在APU中的应用能够减少发动机油耗、提升效率、延长热端部件的使用寿命。首先概述了飞机辅助动力装置的结构和工作原理,以及热障涂层的材料及结构体系。其次归纳了飞机APU常见热端部件中热障涂层的制备技术及应用特点,主要对大气等离子（AirPlasmaSpraying,APS）和电子束物理气相沉积（Electron–Beam Physical Vapor Deposition,EB–PVD）等2种热障涂层进行了论述。在此基础上,重点综述了热障涂层在民用飞机APU中的典型失效形式,包括高温氧化失效、烧结失效、CMAS腐蚀、颗粒物冲击等,同时结合热障涂层热生长氧化物（Thermally Grown Oxide,TGO）生长、应变能释放、蠕变与疲劳、颗粒物沉积、外来物损伤等行为,对以上失效形式的失效机理进行了重点论述;分别从微观结构观察、断裂力学参数计算、有限元建模等方面详细阐述了飞机APU热障涂层的失效分析手段与方法。最后结合航空公司的实际运营情况对提升APU使用寿命和系统可靠性给出了...     

Editorial

Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) in current gas turbine engines routinely deliver metal tempera-ture reductions of 50 to 80°C under normal conditions and as much as 140°C temperature reduc-tions in hot spots (Ref 1). This temperature reduction can be used to lower metal component tem-peratures under constant operating conditions to achieve longer life, or to increase the performance of the engine through higher operating temperatures while maintaining constant life of the component, as indicated by the horizontal arrows in Fig. 1. A middle road of longer life and increased engine performance/efficiency is also possible. The choice of how to use the thermal benefits derived from TBCs is critical, especially if the intent is to follow the high economic pay-off path of increasing the operating temperatures to increase engine efficiency. In this case, large increases in operating temperature and engine efficiency are possible with the insulating capabil-ity of TBCs. The problem is that if the temperatures are increased to take full advantage of the TBC insulating ability, and a large frac-tion of the coating spalls, the remaining bare metallic component would be subjected to high temperatures and unacceptably rapid deg-radation (Fig. 1). Obviously, the risk of coating failure must be balanced against the benefit of coating use.     

声发射技术在热障涂层失效机理中的研究进展及展望

热障涂层（TBCs）具有优异的高温抗氧化、高温力学和抗热腐蚀性能而备受关注,广泛应用于航空发动机和燃气轮机热端部件中。热障涂层服役环境的恶劣和涂层体系结构的复杂,极易导致涂层发生界面分层或剥落失效,因此通过对热障涂层的裂纹萌生和扩展问题进行实时监测,对于失效机理研究显得尤为重要。简述光激发荧光压电光谱（PLPS）、红外热成像（IRT）、阻抗谱（IS）的原理及其在热障涂层失效行为研究中的应用,重点介绍声发射技术在热障涂层失效机理方面的研究成果。基于声发射的热障涂层失效过程的信号分析和深度处理,结合声发射技术在热障涂层中的参数分析和波形分析,对热障涂层失效过程及失效形态进行模式识别,通过损伤程度的定量评估来进行热障涂层的寿命预测。对声发射技术在热障涂层失效预测及寿命评估指明了方向,并创新性地对未来声发射技术在热障涂层的疲劳损伤方面研究趋势提出展望。     

Thermal conductivity and elastic modulus evolution of thermal barrier coatings under high heat flux conditions

Laser high heat flux test approaches have been established to obtain critical properties of ceramic thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) under near-realistic temperature and thermal gradients that may be encountered in advanced engine systems. Thermal conductivity change kinetics of a thin ceramic coating were continuously monitored in real time at various test temperatures. A significant thermal conductivity increase was observed during the laser-simulated engine heat flux tests. For a 0.25 mm thick ZrO₂-8% Y₂O₃ coating system, the overall thermal conductivity increased from the initial value of 1.0 W/m K to 1.15, 1.19, and 1.5 W/m K after 30 h of testing at surface temperatures of 990, 1100, and 1320 °C, respectively, Hardness and elastic modulus gradients across a 1.5 mm thick TBC system were also determined as a function of laser testing time using the laser sintering/creep and microindentation techniques. The coating Knoop hardness values increased from the initial hardness value of 4 GPa to 5 GPa near the ceramic/bond coat interface and to 7.5 GPa at the ceramic coating surface after 120 h of testing. The ceramic surface modulus increased from an initial value of about 70 GPa to a final value of 125 GPa. The increase in thermal conductivity and the evolution of significant hardness and modulus gradients in the TBC systems are attributed to sintering-induced microporosity gradients under the laser-imposed high thermal gradient conditions. The test techniques provide a viable means for obtaining coating data for use in design, development, stress modeling, and life prediction for various TBC applications.     

PVD TBC experience on GE aircraft engines

The higher performance levels of modern gas turbine engines present significant challenges in the reli-ability of materials in the turbine. The increased engine temperatures required to achieve the higher per-formance levels reduce the strength of the materials used in the turbine sections of the engine. Various forms of thermal barrier coatings have been used for many years to increase the reliability of gas turbine engine components. Recent experience with the physical vapor deposition process using ceramic material has demonstrated success in extending the service life of turbine blades and nozzles. Engine test results of turbine components with a 125 μm (0.005 in.) PVD TBC have demonstrated component operating tem-peratures of 56 to 83 °C (100 to 150 °F) lower than non-PVD TBC components. Engine testing has also revealed that TBCs are susceptible to high angle particle impact damage. Sand particles and other engine debris impact the TBC surface at the leading edge of airfoils and fracture the PVD columns. As the impacting continues, the TBC erodes in local areas. Analysis of the eroded areas has shown a slight increase in temperature over a fully coated area ; however, a significant temperature reduc-tion was realized over an airfoil without TBC.     

热障涂层无损检测技术研究进展

为提高发动机的涡轮前温度和热端部件服役寿命,热障涂层（TBCs）被广泛应用于燃气涡轮发动机。热障涂层具有多相、多界面和非均质特性,且其服役工况恶劣复杂。寻找一种可以表征涂层显微组织、缺陷、热物性、应力等反映涂层质量和剩余寿命的无损检测方法,对发动机的热端部件安全性和可靠性至关重要。文中综述了超声检测技术（UT）、声发射技术（AE）、红外热成像技术（IRT）、阻抗谱技术（IS）和光激发荧光压电光谱技术（PLPS）的原理以及其在热障涂层无损检测中的研究应用,并详细介绍了太赫兹时域光谱（THz-TDS）技术及其在热障涂层中的应用。最后总结了上述无损检测方法的检测能力,并对热障涂层无损检测方法进行展望。     

PVD thermal barrier coating applications and process development for aircraft engines

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) have been developed for application to aircraft engine components to improve service life in an increasingly hostile thermal environment. The choice of TBC type is related to the component, intended use, and economics. Selection of electron beam physical vapor deposition proc-essing for turbine blade is due in part to part size, surface finish requirements, thickness control needs, and hole closure issues. Process development of PVD TBCs has been carried out at several different sites, including GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE). The influence of processing variables on microstructure is dis-cussed, along with the GEAE development coater and initial experiences of pilot line operation.