Patent ID: 7393416
Filing Date: 2008-07-01
Classification: C23C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for depositing a ceramic coating on a surface of a component, the apparatus comprising: a single evaporation source containing multiple different oxide compounds consisting essentially of yttria, zirconia, and at least one oxide compound having a vapor pressure that is higher than the remaining oxide compounds; means for introducing the evaporation source into a coating chamber; means for suspending the component near the evaporation source; means for projecting a high-energy beam on the evaporation source to melt and form a vapor cloud having a composition comprising the oxide compounds of the evaporation source; means for determining a first time period during which the composition of the vapor cloud is such that the relative amount of the at least one oxide compound in the vapor cloud is greater than the relative amount of the at least one oxide compound in the evaporation source and for determining a second time period that immediately follows the first time period and during which the composition of the vapor cloud is such that the relative amount of the at least one oxide compound in the vapor cloud is approximately equal to the relative amount of the at least one oxide compound in the evaporation source; means for preventing the vapor cloud from contacting and condensing on the component during the first time period; and means for removing the preventing means at the end of the first time period to allow the vapor cloud to contact and condense on the component to form the coating.