The coating, only about 100 microns thick, reduces the temperature of the metal by approximately 200 degrees C, says Evans. He has also created ceramic fibers that he weaves together and layers in particular geometric patterns to make composites used for other critical hot section components. Partnership with industry Most of Evans' research is done in partnership with industry, a back and forth dialogue that takes place over the years as a particular material is being formulated. This arrangement came about out of a mutual necessity to share resources. We do measurements and develop the coats and testing.
Industry supplies the material.
At some point, they stop telling us what they're doing, and we know our job is done. For us, success is passing the technology on. Examples include ceramic composite components used by GE in their jet engines, Evans says, and cellular A1 used by Rockwell for cooling high power electronics used in motor drives. Evans and other researchers have brought ceramics to such a high level of development that price often dictates applications rather than technology. At this stage, the implementation of ceramics is virtually all related to cost relative to competing materials.