Patent ID: 9116126
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: outputting electromagnetic energy at a first energy setting from an energy source; exposing a portion of an article comprising a substrate, a thermal barrier coating comprising a thermally grown oxide on the substrate, and a thermally insulative layer on the thermally grown oxide to the first energy setting to ablate the portion of the article, wherein the portion of the article comprises a portion of the thermally insulative layer; collecting a spectrum of electromagnetic energy emitted by the portion of the article after ablation; determining, based on the collected spectrum of electromagnetic energy, that a component of the thermally insulative layer is present in the portion of the article; outputting electromagnetic energy at a second energy setting from the energy source, wherein the second energy setting is different than the first energy setting, exposing a portion of the thermally grown oxide to the second energy setting; detecting electromagnetic energy fluoresced by the portion of the thermally grown oxide in response to exposure to the second energy setting; and estimating a remaining life of the thermal barrier coating based on the electromagnetic energy fluoresced by the portion of the thermally grown oxide.