Affordable CMAS -Resistant Thermal Barrier Coatings

A notable failure mechanism in thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) is the attack by calcium-magnesium-alumino silicate (CMAS) deposits resulting from the ingestion of siliceous minerals with the intake of air. Existing TBC systems such as yittria partially stabilized zirconia (YSZ) are highly susceptible to CMAS infiltration. In this STTR program, QuesTek Innovations LLC, a leader in the field of computational materials design, proposes to expand its computational Materials by Design technology by developing a"design toolkit"that enables the subsequent design and development of novel CMAS-resistant, high performance thermal barrier coatings for aeroengine components (e.g., turbine blades). The focus of the Phase I program will be the development of the ICME (Integrated Computational Materials Engineering) based materials design toolkit, especially robust thermodynamic descriptions that forms the backbone for almost all ICME tools. Additionally, relevant process-structure-property tools that are necessary to enable design of high performance TBCs will be implemented. These tools will be exercised to design a CMAS-resistant TBC composition and microstructure. To support design of high performance CMAS-resistant TBCs, QuesTek will partner with a leading TBC expert as university partner. Furthermore, this program will involve a leading turbine engine manufacturer, to ensure a strong commercialization path for the coating solutions.