Patent ID: 6730918
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for determining at least one of past-service conditions and remaining useful life of at least one of a component of a combustion engine and a thermal barrier coating thereof, said apparatus comprising:(1) a source of first radiation having a first wavelength range, said first radiation being directed at said thermal barrier coating that comprises at least one PL material capable of emitting a second radiation having a second wavelength range in response to an excitation by said first radiation; (2) a radiation detector being capable of detecting said second radiation and being disposed to receive and measure a characteristic property thereof, said characteristic property varying in response to a change in an amount of a crystalline phase in said thermal barrier coating, said change having occurred over a course of past service of said component of said combustion engine; and (3) means for relating said characteristic property of said second radiation to one of said amount of said crystalline phase in said thermal barrier coating, past-service conditions, and remaining useful life of said combustion-engine component; wherein said crystalline phase being selected from the group consisting of monoclinic phase, tetragonal phase, and cubic phase.