Patent Description:
Higher operating temperatures for gas turbine engines are continuously being sought in order to improve their efficiency. However, as operating temperatures increase, the high temperature durability of the components of the engine must correspondingly increase. Significant advances in high temperature capabilities have been achieved through the formulation of iron, nickel, and cobalt-based superalloys. While superalloys have found wide use for components used throughout gas turbine engines, and especially in the higher temperature sections, alternative lighter-weight component materials have been proposed.

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are a class of materials that consist of a reinforcing material surrounded by a ceramic matrix phase. Such materials, along with certain monolithic ceramics (i.e. ceramic materials without a reinforcing material), are currently being used for higher temperature applications. These ceramic materials are lightweight compared to superalloys yet can still provide strength and durability to the component made therefrom. Therefore, such materials are currently being considered for many gas turbine components used in higher temperature sections of gas turbine engines, such as airfoils (e.g. turbines, and vanes), combustors, shrouds and other like components that would benefit from the lighter-weight and higher temperature capability these materials can offer.

CMC and monolithic ceramic components can be coated with environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) to protect them from the harsh environment of high temperature engine sections. EBCs can provide a dense, hermetic seal against the corrosive gases in the hot combustion environment, which can rapidly oxidize silicon-containing CMCs and monolithic ceramics. Additionally, silicon oxide is not stable in high temperature steam, but rather, can be converted to volatile (gaseous) silicon hydroxide species. Thus, EBCs can help prevent dimensional changes in the ceramic component due to such oxidation and volatilization processes. Unfortunately, there can be some undesirable issues associated with standard, industrial coating processes such as plasma spray and vapor deposition (i.e. chemical vapor deposition, CVD, and electron beam physical vapor deposition, EBPVD) currently used to apply EBCs.

<CIT> relates to a multi-layered article formed of a substrate, such as silicon carbide and/or silicon nitride.

Embodiments herein generally relate to water based slurry compositions for making an environmental barrier coating according to claim <NUM>.

These and other features, aspects and advantages will become evident to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the embodiments set forth herein will be better understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals identify like elements.

Embodiments described herein generally relate to solvent based slurry compositions for making environmental barrier coatings and environmental barrier coatings comprising the same.

More specifically, the EBCs described herein comprise sintering aids, which can lower the sintering temperature, thereby promoting the formation of dense EBC layers that can act as a hermetic seal to protect the underlying component from corrosion from the gases generated during high temperature combustion without damaging the component through exposure to high sintering temperatures, as explained herein below.

The EBCs described herein may be suitable for use in conjunction with CMCs or monolithic ceramics. As used herein, "CMCs" refers to silicon-containing matrix and reinforcing materials. Some examples of CMCs acceptable for use herein can include, but should not be limited to, materials having a matrix and reinforcing fibers comprising silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and mixtures thereof. As used herein, "monolithic ceramics" refers to materials comprising silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and mixtures thereof. Herein, CMCs and monolithic ceramics are collectively referred to as "ceramics.

As used herein, the term "barrier coating(s)" can refer to environmental barrier coatings (EBCs). The barrier coatings herein may be suitable for use on "ceramic component," or simply "component" <NUM> found in high temperature environments (e.g. operating temperatures of above <NUM>°F (<NUM>)), such as those present in gas turbine engines. Examples of such ceramic components can include, for example, combustor components, turbine blades, shrouds, nozzles, heat shields, and vanes.

More specifically, EBC <NUM> may comprise a coating system including various combinations of the following: a bond coat layer <NUM>, an optional silica layer <NUM>, at least one transition layer <NUM>, an optional compliant layer <NUM>, an optional intermediate layer <NUM>, and an optional outer layer <NUM>, as shown generally in <FIG> and as set forth herein below.

Bond coat layer <NUM> may comprise silicon metal, silicide, or a combination thereof, and may generally have a thickness of from about <NUM> (<NUM> mils) to about <NUM> (<NUM> mils). Due to the application method as described herein below, there may be some local regions where the silicon bond coat is missing, which can be acceptable. For example, in one embodiment, bond coat layer can cover about <NUM>% of the surface of the component, and in another embodiment, about <NUM>% or more of the surface area of the component.

As used herein "silicide" may include rare earth (Ln) silicides, chromium silicide (e.g. CrSi<NUM>), niobium silicide (e.g. NbSi<NUM>, NbSi<NUM>), molybdenum silicide (e.g. MoSi<NUM>, Mo<NUM>Si<NUM>, MoSi<NUM>), tantalum silicide (e.g.TaSi<NUM>, TaSi<NUM>), titanium silicide (e.g. TiSi<NUM>, TiSi<NUM>), tungsten silicide (e.g. WSi<NUM>, W<NUM>Si<NUM>), zirconium silicide (e.g. ZrSi<NUM>), hafnium silicide (e.g. HfSi<NUM>),.

As used herein, "rare earth" represented "(Ln)" refers to the rare earth elements of scandium (Sc), yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu), and mixtures thereof.

Silica layer <NUM> can be amorphous or crystalline, and have an initial thickness of from about <NUM> (<NUM> mils) to about <NUM> (<NUM> mils). However, the thickness of silica layer <NUM> can increase over time. Specifically, the silicon in bond coat layer <NUM> can oxidize slowly during the service life of the EBC to gradually increase the thickness of silica layer <NUM>. This oxidation of bond coat <NUM> can protect the underlying ceramic component from oxidation since the bond coat is oxidized rather than the ceramic component. Silica layer <NUM> can, in some embodiments, also be doped with a doping composition, as defined herein below, due to diffusion of the sintering aid into the silica layer.

Transition layer <NUM> may comprise a rare earth disilicate, a doped rare earth disilicate, or a doped rare earth disilicate containing secondary materials, as defined below. More specifically, transition layer <NUM> may include from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the transition layer of a primary transition material and up to about <NUM>% by volume of the transition layer of a secondary material, and in one embodiment from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the transition layer of the primary transition material and from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the transition layer of the secondary material. In another embodiment, transition layer <NUM> may comprise <NUM>% primary transition material wherein the primary transition material can be doped, as described below.

As used herein, "primary transition material" refers to a rare earth disilicate (Ln<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM>), or a doped rare earth disilicate. As used herein, "doped rare earth disilicate" refers to Ln<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM> doped with a "doping composition" selected from the group consisting of iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), gallium (Ga), nickel (Ni), boron (B), an alkali, an alkali-earth, and Lnb rare earths, as defined herein below. As used herein throughout, "secondary material" refers to a material comprising a doping composition (as defined previously), and specifically, can be selected from the group consisting of Fe<NUM>O<NUM>, iron silicates, rare earth iron oxides, Al<NUM>O<NUM>, mullite, rare earth aluminates, rare earth aluminosilicates, TiO<NUM>, rare earth titanates, Ga<NUM>O<NUM>, rare earth gallates, NiO, nickel silicates, rare earth nickel oxides, Lnb metals, Lnb<NUM>O<NUM>, Lnb<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM>, Lnb<NUM>SiO<NUM>, borosilicate glass, alkaline earth silicates, alkaline earth rare earth oxides, alkaline earth rare earth silicates, and mixtures thereof. Any doping composition present in the primary material should correspond to the doping composition contained in any secondary material present (e.g. Fe-doped Ln<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM> with Fe<NUM>O<NUM> secondary material; Ti-doped Ln<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM> with TiO<NUM> secondary material; or Ni-doped Ln<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM> with rare earth nickel oxide secondary material, for example).

Each transition layer <NUM> may have a thickness of from about <NUM> (<NUM> mils) to about <NUM> (<NUM> mils), and may be made and applied to the underlying layer as set forth below. In one embodiment, there may be more than one transition layer present. In such instances, each transition layer may comprise the same or different combination of primary transition materials and secondary materials. Transition layer <NUM> may have a porosity level of from <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the transition layer, and in another embodiment, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the transition layer.

Similarly, outer layer <NUM> may comprise a doped rare earth monosilicate, or a doped rare earth monosilicate containing secondary material. More specifically, outer layer <NUM> can include from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the outer layer of a primary outer material and up to about <NUM>% by volume of the outer layer of the previously defined secondary material, and in one embodiment from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the outer layer of a primary outer material and from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the outer layer of the secondary material. In another embodiment, outer layer <NUM> may comprise <NUM>% primary outer material wherein the primary outer material can be doped as described below.

As used herein, "primary outer material" refers to a doped rare earth monosilicate. As used herein, "doped rare earth monosilicate" refers to Ln<NUM>SiO<NUM> doped with a doping composition, as defined previously. Outer layer <NUM> may have a thickness of from about <NUM> (<NUM> mils) to about <NUM> (<NUM> mils), and may be made and applied to the underlying layer as set forth below. In one embodiment, outer layer <NUM> may have a porosity level of from <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the outer layer, and in another embodiment, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the outer layer, and in another embodiment, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the outer layer. In some embodiments, outer layer <NUM> can comprise cracks therein at a density of up to about <NUM> cracks/mm that can form during operation due to thermal expansion anisotropy.

In reference to the embodiments herein, "Lnb rare earth (metal)", or simply "Lnb" refers to a sub-set of rare-earth metals having a melting point below at least about <NUM> including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, and ytterbium. In one embodiment, the sub-set can include only those rare earth elements having a melting point below about <NUM> including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, and ytterbium. The Lnb rare earth metal can be utilized with SiC-SiC CMCs having an operation limit of about1357°C.

As used herein throughout, "alkaline earth" can refer to magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), and barium (Ba). As used herein, "alkali" refers to lithium (Li), potassium (K), and sodium (Na). "Iron silicates" can include compounds such as Fe<NUM>SiO<NUM>, and glasses of rare earth iron silicates. "Rare earth iron oxides" can include compounds such as garnets (Ln<NUM>Fe<NUM>O<NUM>), monoclinic ferrites (Ln<NUM>Fe<NUM>O<NUM>), and perovskites (LnFeO<NUM>). "Rare-earth aluminates" can include compounds such as garnets (Ln<NUM>Al<NUM>O<NUM>), monoclinic aluminates (Ln<NUM>Al<NUM>O<NUM>), and perovskites (LnAlO<NUM>). "Rare earth aluminates" can include glassy materials comprised of about <NUM>-<NUM> wt% Ln<NUM>O<NUM>, about <NUM>-<NUM> wt% Al<NUM>O<NUM>, and about <NUM>-<NUM> wt% SiO<NUM>. "Rare-earth titanates" can include compounds such as Ln<NUM>Ti<NUM>O<NUM> (pyrochlore) and Ln<NUM>TiO<NUM>. "Rare-earth gallates" can include compounds such as garnets (Ln<NUM>Ga<NUM>O<NUM>), monoclinic gallates (Ln<NUM>Ga<NUM>O<NUM>), perovskites (LnGaO<NUM>), and Ln<NUM>GaO<NUM>. "Nickel silicates" can include compounds such as Ni<NUM>SiO<NUM>. "Borosilicate glass" can refer to any amorphous material containing up to about <NUM>% by weight boron oxide (B<NUM>O<NUM>), up to about <NUM>% alkali oxide selected from the group consisting of sodium (Na<NUM>O), potassium (K<NUM>O), lithium (Li<NUM>O), or any combinations of thereof, up to about <NUM>% alumina (Al<NUM>O<NUM>), and a balance of silica (SiO<NUM>). "Alkaline earth silicates" can include compounds such as Mg<NUM>SiO<NUM>, MgSiO<NUM>, Ca<NUM>SiO<NUM>, Ca<NUM>SiO<NUM>, Ca<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM>, CaSiO<NUM>, Ba<NUM>SiO<NUM>, BaSiO<NUM>, Ba<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM>, BaSi<NUM>O<NUM>, Sr<NUM>SiO<NUM>, and SrSiO<NUM>. "Alkali earth rare earth oxides" can include compounds such as BaLn<NUM>O<NUM>, Mg<NUM>Ln<NUM>O<NUM>, SrLn<NUM>O<NUM>, and Sr<NUM>Ln<NUM>O<NUM>. "Alkaline earth rare earth silicates" can include oxyapatite materials (i.e. Ae<NUM>Ln<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM>).

If present, compliant layer <NUM> may include from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the compliant layer of a primary compliant material and up to about <NUM>% by volume of the compliant layer of a secondary compliant material, and in one embodiment from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the compliant layer of a primary compliant material and from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the compliant layer of the secondary compliant material. In another embodiment, compliant layer <NUM> may comprise <NUM>% by volume of the compliant layer of a primary compliant material wherein the primary compliant material may be doped with a rare earth element.

As used herein, "primary compliant material" refers to BSAS, or a rare earth doped BSAS, while "secondary compliant material" refers to Ln<NUM>O<NUM>, Ln<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM>, Ln<NUM>SiO<NUM>, Ln<NUM>Al<NUM>O<NUM>, Al<NUM>O<NUM>, mullite, and combinations thereof. Compliant layer <NUM> may have a thickness of from about <NUM> (<NUM> mils) to about <NUM> (<NUM> mils), and may be made and applied as set forth below. In one embodiment, compliant layer <NUM> may have a porosity level of from <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the compliant layer, and in another embodiment, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the compliant layer, and in another embodiment, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume of the compliant layer.

Intermediate layer <NUM>, if present, can comprise the previously defined primary outer materials of rare earth monosilicate or doped rare earth monosilicate. Similar to the silica layer, intermediate layer <NUM> can form during the service life of the EBC. More specifically, high temperature steam penetrates the outer layer <NUM>, and as the steam reacts with the primary transition material of the transition layer to volatilize SiO2, intermediate layer <NUM> can form.

By way of example, and not limitation, the EBC systems described herein may include in one embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, and transition layer <NUM>; in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, and outer layer <NUM>; in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, compliant layer <NUM>, and outer layer <NUM>; in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, compliant layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, and outer layer <NUM>; in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, silica layer <NUM>, and transition layer <NUM>; in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, silica layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, and outer layer <NUM>; in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, silica layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, compliant layer <NUM>, and outer layer <NUM>; in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, silica layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, compliant layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, and outer layer <NUM>; in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, intermediate layer <NUM>, and outer layer <NUM>; in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, silica layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, intermediate layer <NUM>, and outer layer <NUM>; in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, silica layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, intermediate layer <NUM> (which can form during operation), and outer layer <NUM>; and in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, silica layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, compliant layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, intermediate layer <NUM> (which can form during operation), and outer layer <NUM>. Such embodiments can be suitable for use in environments having a temperature up to about <NUM> (<NUM>°F).

Alternately, the EBC system may comprise component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, and compliant layer <NUM>; and in another embodiment, component <NUM>, bond coat layer <NUM>, silica layer <NUM>, transition layer <NUM>, and compliant layer <NUM>. Such embodiments can be suitable for use in environments having a temperature of up to about <NUM> (<NUM>°F).

Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments in addition to those set forth previously are also acceptable, and that not all of the layers need to be present initially, but rather, may form during engine operation.

The EBC can be made and applied in accordance with the description below.

Bond coat layer <NUM> may be applied by plasma spray processes, chemical vapor deposition processes, electron beam physical vapor deposition processes, dipping in molten silicon, sputtering processes, and other conventional application processes known to those skilled in the art.

As previously described, silica layer <NUM> can form during the service life of the EBC. Specifically, oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere can diffuse through any of the outer layer, compliant, and transition layer(s) present in the EBC and react with the silicon of bond coat layer <NUM> to form silica layer <NUM>. Alternately, silica layer <NUM> may be intentionally deposited by chemical vapor deposition, plasma spray, slurry deposition, or other conventional method.

Similar to silica layer <NUM>, intermediate layer <NUM> can also form during the service life of the EBC when high temperature steam reacts with transition layer <NUM>, as previously described.

The manufacturing and application processes for transition layer <NUM>, compliant layer <NUM> and outer layer <NUM> can consist of a slurry deposition cycle including sintering aids to lower the temperature needed to densify the layers. The slurry deposition cycle can generally include slurry formation, slurry application, drying, and sintering, with optional masking, leveling, sintering aid infiltration, mask removal, and binder burnout steps, as set forth below. Those skilled in the art will understand that slurries of varying compositions can be used to make EBC layers of varying composition and that multiple slurry deposition cycles can be used to build up the total thickness of a particular layer. Each layer can have the thickness set forth previously with the average thickness per slurry deposition cycle depending primarily on the slurry solids loading, sintering aid concentration, and number of dip, spray, or paint passes.

The slurries described in the embodiments herein can comprise various slurry components, but generally include water, ceramic particles, sintering aid, and organic processing aids. Particularly, the slurry may comprise from about <NUM> wt% water; from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% of a dispersant; from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt % of a plasticizer; from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% surfactant; from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt % slurry sintering aid; from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt % of primary material; from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% of a thickener; from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% of a latex binder; and from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% of a secondary additive for controlled dispersion.

More specifically, "dispersant" refers to polyacrylic acid, polyacrylic acid-polyethylene oxide copolymers, polyvinyl phosphoric acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyethylenimine, ammonium polyacrylate, ammonium polymethacrylate, sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde condensate, polyvinyl sulfonic acid, and combinations thereof.

"Plasticizer" refers to ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol glycerol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol, and combinations thereof.

"Surfactant" refers to compositions selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbons, dimethylsilicones, and ethoxylated acetylenic diol chemistries (e.g. commercial surfactants in the Surfynol® series such as Surfynol® <NUM> and <NUM> (Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. )), and combinations thereof.

As used herein, "slurry sintering aid" can refer to sintering aid compositions suitable for inclusion in the slurry. According to the invention, there is from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt % of a slurry sintering aid, wherein the slurry sintering aid is aluminum oxide. In the case of the compliant layer slurry, the "slurry sintering aid" may include rare earth nitrate, rare earth acetate, rare earth chloride, rare earth oxide, ammonium phosphate, phosphoric acid, polyvinyl phosphoric acid, and combination thereof.

In an alternate embodiment, not according to the invention, the slurry can comprise from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, and in one embodiment from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, of an Lnb rare earth metal slurry sintering aid as defined previously herein, and from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, and in one embodiment from about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, of a SiO<NUM> slurry sintering aid. In this embodiment, the Lnb and SiO<NUM> content can be held such that the mole ratio of Lnb to SiO<NUM> is about <NUM> to <NUM> for slurries containing rare earth disilicate primary transition material, and about <NUM> to <NUM> for slurries containing rare earth monosilicate primary outer material.

As used herein, "water-soluble iron salts" can include iron nitrate and iron acetate; "water-soluble gallium salts" can include gallium nitrate and gallium acetate; "water-soluble aluminum salts" can include aluminum nitrate and aluminum acetate; "water-soluble nickel salts" can include nickel nitrate and nickel acetate; "water-soluble titanium salts" can include titanium chloride; "water-soluble boron salts" can include boric acid and ammonium borate; and "water-soluble alkaline earth salts" can include Mg(NO<NUM>)<NUM>, Ca(NO<NUM>)<NUM>, Sr(NO<NUM>)<NUM>, Ba(NO<NUM>)<NUM>, MgC<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>, CaC<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>, SrC<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>, and BaC<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>.

As defined previously, the "primary material" can be selected from Ln<NUM>Si<NUM>O<NUM>, Ln<NUM>SiO<NUM>, or BSAS depending on which layer is being made.

"Secondary additives for controlled dispersion" include citric acid, glycine, dextrose, sucrose, mannose, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, and combinations thereof.

"Thickener" refers to xanthan gum, polyethylene oxide, guar gum, polyacrylic acid, polyvinylpyrolidone, methylcellulose, and other cellulose derivatives, and combinations thereof.

"Latex binder" refers to polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyrol, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylates, acrylic polymers, polymethyl methacrylate/polybutyl acrylate, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl malate, and natural latex rubber. Some examples of latex binders can include Rhoplex™ HA-<NUM>, Rhoplex™ HA-<NUM>, Pavecryl™ <NUM> (Rohm and Haas).

Also, as used herein, "organic processing aids" refers to dispersants, plasticizers, secondary additives for controlled dispersion, thickeners, and latex binders present in the slurry. These organic processing aids are comprised primarily of carbon and other elements that volatilize during processing such that they are not present in the post-sintered coating.

The slurry can be formed by combining the previously described slurry components with mixing media in a container. The mixture can be mixed using conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art such as shaking with up to about a <NUM> inch (about <NUM>) diameter alumina or zirconia mixing media, ball milling using about a <NUM> inch to about a <NUM> inch (about <NUM> to about <NUM>) diameter alumina or zirconia mixing media, attritor milling using about a <NUM> to about a <NUM> diameter zirconia-based mixing media, planetary ball milling using from about a <NUM> to about a <NUM> diameter zirconia-based media, or mechanical mixing or stirring with simultaneous application of ultrasonic energy. The mixing media or ultrasonic energy can break apart any agglomerated ceramic particles in the slurry. Any mixing media present may then be removed by straining, for example.

If not added previously, any of the remaining slurry components may be added, in turn, along with mixing until the component dissolves, which is generally after about <NUM> to about <NUM> minutes.

Once all slurry components have been mixed, the slurry can be filtered through screens of varying mesh sizes to remove any impurities that may be present, such as after the initial mixing of the slurry or after use of the slurry to deposit coating layers. A <NUM> mesh screen, for example, can be used to filter out impurities having an average size of about <NUM> microns or greater.

After mixing and optional filtering, the slurry can be agitated indefinitely by slow rolling, slow mechanical mixing, or other like methods to avoid trapping air bubbles in the slurry. In one embodiment, the slurry may be refreshed by adding additional water to account for that which has evaporated during processing. Alternately, once mixed, the slurry can be set aside until needed for application. Those skilled in the art will understand that the previous embodiment sets forth one method for making the slurry compositions described herein, and that other methods are also acceptable, as set forth in the Examples below.

Optionally, masking can be applied to the ceramic component before the slurry is applied to prevent coating specific areas of the component. Masking may be carried out using conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art including, but not limited to, tapes, tooling, and paint-on adhesives.

Once all desired masking of the ceramic component is complete, the slurry can be applied to the component to produce a coated component. The slurry can be applied to the component (or on top of a previously applied layer) using any conventional slurry deposition method known to those skilled in the art, including but not limited to, dipping the component into a slurry bath, or painting, rolling, stamping, spraying, or pouring the slurry onto the component. In one embodiment, slurry application can be carried out in a humid environment to help prevent water evaporation that could change the slurry rheology, for example, during coating deposition onto a large batch of parts. In one embodiment, "humid environment" refers to greater than <NUM>% relative humidity, in another embodiment greater than <NUM>% relative humidity, and in yet another embodiment greater than <NUM>% relative humidity, all at or near room temperature (about <NUM> to about <NUM>). Slurry application can be carried out manually or it may be automated.

Once the slurry has been applied to the component, and while the slurry is still wet, it may be leveled to remove excess slurry material. Leveling may be carried out using conventional techniques such as, but not limited to, spinning, rotating, slinging the component, dripping with or without applied vibration, or using a doctor blade, to remove excess slurry material. Similar to the slurry application, leveling can be conducted manually or it may be automated, and it can be carried out in a humid environment because if the slurry dries too quickly it can lead to defects in the coating during leveling.

Next, the coated component can be dried to produce a dried component. Drying may be carried out in ambient or controlled temperature and humidity conditions. In one embodiment, controlled temperature and humidity can be utilized to help maintain the integrity of the applied slurry coating. More particularly, in one embodiment, drying may be carried out at temperatures from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, and in another embodiment, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, and at a humidity range of from about <NUM>% relative humidity to about <NUM>% relative humidity, in one embodiment from about <NUM>% relative humidity to about <NUM>% relative humidity, and in yet another embodiment from about <NUM>% relative humidity to about <NUM>% relative humidity.

After drying, any masking present may then be removed by peeling off tapes and adhesives, pyrolysis of tapes and adhesives, or removing multi-use tooling. Any rough edges remaining after masking removal may be scraped or cut away using a sharp or abrasive tool.

Next, burnout of the organic processing aids may be carried out by placing the dried component in an elevated temperature environment so that any bound water can be evaporated and the organic processing aids can be pyrolyzed. In one embodiment, burnout of the organic processing aids may be accomplished by heating the dried component at a rate of from about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min to a temperature of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> and holding the component at this temperature for from about <NUM> to about <NUM> hours. In another embodiment, the coated component may be heated at a rate of from about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min to a temperature of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> and holding the component at this temperature for from about <NUM> to about <NUM> hours. In another embodiment, the hold time can be eliminated by slowly ramping up to the target temperature without holding, followed by ramping up or down to another temperature at a different rate. In another embodiment, binder burnout can occur rapidly by placing the coated component into a furnace heated to a temperature of from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

The dried component may then be sintered to produce a component comprising an environmental barrier coating. Sintering can serve to simultaneously densify and impart strength to the coating. Additionally, in the case of the transition and outer layers of the EBC, sintering can impart a hermetic seal against high temperature steam present in the engine environment. Sintering can be carried out using a conventional furnace, or by using such methods as microwave sintering, laser sintering, infrared sintering, and the like.

Sintering can be accomplished by heating the dried component at a rate of from about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min to a temperature of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> and holding the component at that temperature for from about <NUM> to about <NUM> hours. In another embodiment, sintering can be accomplished by heating the coated component at a rate of from about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min to a temperature of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> and holding the component at that temperature for from about <NUM> to about <NUM> hours. In another embodiment, sintering can occur rapidly by placing the coated component into a furnace heated to a temperature of from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

Binder burnout and sintering heat treatments may be carried out in an ambient air atmosphere, or in an inert gas atmosphere where the inert gas is selected from hydrogen, a noble gas such as helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, or mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the inert gas atmosphere can be used in conjunction with Lnb and SiOz sintering aids so as not to convert the rare earth metal to an oxide before it melts. Maintaining the Lnb metal in a metal state can promote liquid phase sintering and subsequent reaction with the SiO<NUM>.

In an alternate embodiment, all layers of the EBC can be applied, one on top of the other, before masking removal, organic processing aid burnout, and sintering are carried out. Those skilled in the art will understand that after application of each layer, the layer should be dried, or partially dried, before the application of the subsequent layer.

Infiltration may allow for the densification of a thicker layer of EBC material at one time. Moreover, infiltration is a way to add more sintering aid after sintering if the coating isn't as dense as desired. The sol-gel solution used for infiltration may be an aqueous solution of a water soluble salt sintering aid, as defined previously, or a solution of an organic solvent and a solvent soluble salt sintering aid.

As used herein, "organic solvent" refers to methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, nonanol, decanol, dodecanol, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene, ethylbenzene, propyl benzene, methoxybenzene, heptane, octane, nonane, decane, xylene, mineral spirits, naptha (such as VM&P naptha), tetrahydrofuran, ethers, and combinations thereof.

As used herein, "solvent soluble salt sintering aids" can include solvent soluble iron salts, solvent soluble gallium salts, solvent soluble aluminum salts, solvent soluble nickel salts, solvent soluble titanium salts, solvent soluble boron salts, and solvent soluble alkaline earth salts. More specifically, as used herein, "solvent-soluble iron salts" can include ethoxide, iron <NUM>,<NUM>-pentanedionate, and iron tetramethylheptanedionate; "solvent-soluble gallium salts" can include gallium <NUM>-hydroxyquinolinate, gallium <NUM>,<NUM>-pentanedionate, gallium ethoxide, gallium isopropoxide, and gallium <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetramethylheptanedionate; "solvent-soluble aluminum salts" can include butoxide, aluminum di-s-butoxide ethylacetoacetate, aluminum diisopropoxide ethylacetoacetate, aluminum ethoxide, aluminum ethoxyethoxyethoxide, aluminum <NUM>,<NUM>-heptanedionate, aluminum isopropoxide, aluminum <NUM>-octadecenylacetoacetate diisopropoxide, aluminum <NUM>,<NUM>-pentanedionate, aluminum pentanedionate bis(ethylacetoacetate), aluminum <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetramethyl3,<NUM>-heptanedionate, and aluminum phenoxide; "solvent-soluble nickel salts" can include nickel <NUM>,<NUM>-pentanedionate, nickel <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetramethyl-<NUM>-<NUM>-heptanedionate; "solvent-soluble titanium salts" can include titanium allylacetoacetatetriisopropoxide, titanium bis(triethanolamine)diisopropoxide, titanium butoxide, titanium di-n-butoxide bis(<NUM>-ethylhexanoate), titanium diisopropoxide(bis-<NUM>,<NUM>-pentanedionate), titanium diisopropoxide bis(tetramethylheptanedionate, titanium ethoxide, titanium diisopropoxide bis(ethylacetoacetate), titanium <NUM>-ethylhexoxide, titanium iodide triisopropoxide, titanium isobutoxide, titanium isopropoxide, titanium methacrylate triisopropoxide, titanium methacryloxyethylacetoacetate triisopropoxide, titanium methoxide, titanium methoxypropoxide, titanium methylphenoxide, titanium n-nonyloxide, titanium oxide bis(pentanedionate), titanium oxide bis(tetramethylheptanedionate), and titanium n-propoxide; "solvent-soluble boron salts" can include boron ethoxide, boron butoxide, boron isopropoxide, boron methoxide, boron methoxyethoxide, boron n-propoxide; and "solvent-soluble alkaline earth salts" can include calcium isopropoxide, calcium methoxyethoxide, calcium methoxide, calcium ethoxide, strontium isopropoxide, strontium methoxypropoxide, strontium <NUM>,<NUM>-pentanedionate, strontium <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetramethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-heptanedionate, magnesium ethoxide, magnesium methoxide, magnesium methoxyethoxide, magnesium <NUM>,<NUM>-pentanedionate, magnesium n-propoxide, barium isopropoxide, barium methoxypropoxide, barium <NUM>,<NUM>-pentanedionate, barium <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetramethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-heptanedionate.

As used herein, "sintering aid(s)" refers to any of a "slurry sintering aid," a "water soluble sintering aid," or a "solvent soluble salt sintering aid," as defined previously. Without intending to be limited by theory, the inclusion of sintering aids to the EBC embodiments herein can increase the rate of diffusion of the primary material such that surface area reduction (i.e. high surface area particles consolidating to form a dense coating) can occur at lower temperatures than it would have absent the sintering aid. As previously described, sintering at lower temperatures (i.e. about <NUM> or below) can not only result in a highly dense (i.e. greater than about <NUM>% for the transition layer, greater than about <NUM>% for the compliant layer, and greater than about <NUM>% for the outer layer) coating that can be less susceptible to the penetration of hot steam from the engine environment, but can also help prevent the degradation of the mechanical properties of the underlying component that could result from prolonged exposure to higher temperatures.

Sintering aids can act in a variety of ways depending on the amount of sintering aid included in the EBC and the time at which the coating is exposed to sintering temperatures. For example, in one embodiment, the sintering aid can dissolve completely into the primary material (i.e. primary transition, outer, or compliant, materials) to "dope" the material. In another embodiment, if the amount of sintering aid that is soluble in the primary material is exceeded, the remaining insoluble portion of sintering aid can react with the primary material to form the secondary material (i.e. secondary transition, compliant, or outer material). In another embodiment, primary material and secondary material can be present as described previously, along with residual sintering aid.

In these latter two embodiments, when the secondary material is highly volatile in high temperature steam, such as but not limited to, alkali silicates, alkaline earth silicates, mullite, iron silicate, borosilicate glass, nickel silicate, and residual sintering aids of iron, aluminum, titanium, gallium, nickel, boron, alkali, and alkali-earth compounds, as long as the total volume of secondary material, plus porosity (plus residual sintering aid when present) in either of the intermediate layer or compliant layer (when present) of the EBC remains about <NUM>% by volume or less, the hermetic seal can be maintained. Alternately, in these latter two embodiments, when the secondary material is highly resistant to volatilization in high temperature steam, such as when the secondary material comprises a rare earth containing compound, such as but not limited to rare earth oxide, rare earth titanate, rare earth iron compound, rare earth gallate, rare earth aluminate, and rare earth aluminosilicate, the porosity in either of the intermediate or compliant layer (when present) of the EBC need remain about <NUM>% by volume or less to maintain the hermetic seal.

It should be noted that at low levels of sintering aid, the densified coating layer might not initially include any detectable secondary materials. In some embodiments, the secondary materials may never become detectable. In other embodiments, however, after hours of exposure to high temperature steam in the engine environment, the secondary materials can become detectable using techniques such as x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, electron dispersive spectroscopy, and the like.

EBC embodiments described herein can offer a variety of benefits over current EBCs and manufacturing processes thereof. Specifically, as previously described, the inclusion of a sintering aid in the EBC embodiments herein can permit sintering at lower temperatures (i.e. about <NUM> or below). This can result in a highly dense (i.e. greater than about <NUM>% for the transition layer, and greater than about <NUM>% for each of the outer, and compliant, layers) coating that can be less susceptible to the penetration of hot steam from the engine environment, and can also help prevent the degradation of the mechanical properties of the underlying component that could result from prolonged exposure to higher temperatures. Also, the embodiments set forth herein can be made at less expense than current EBCs due to the use of the slurry deposition process, which is made possible by the incorporation of sintering aids into the various layers. Moreover, the present embodiments can provide for EBCs having a more uniform thickness than conventional techniques, such as plasma spraying, even when applying thin layers (<<NUM> (<NUM> mils)). Additionally, the slurry deposition process can allow for the application of the EBCs to internal component passages as well as the ability to produce smooth surface finishes without an additional polishing step.

There can be occasions when the EBC develops small and/or narrow defects (e.g. about <NUM> microns to about <NUM> in diameter; or about <NUM> microns to about <NUM> in width) that need to be repaired. The following repair processes are applicable to the EBCs described herein and may be carried out after sintering of an individual EBC layer, or after sintering the entire applied EBC, as explained herein below.

In one embodiment, repairs may include remedying defects in one or more individual layers as the EBC is being applied using the methods described herein. In this embodiment, the repair can be carried out after sintering a given layer by applying a repair slurry comprising the same slurry materials used to make the layer having the defects. For example, if the transition layer develops a defect after sintering, the defect could be repaired using a "transition layer repair slurry" that comprises the same transition layer slurry materials used in the original application of the transition layer. In one embodiment, the repair slurry can comprise a higher solids loading of primary material ceramic particles than the original slurry layer as this can reduce shrinkage on drying and sintering of the repaired portion of the coating. In particular, the solids loading of primary material ceramic particles in the repair slurry can be greater than about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume (as opposed to greater than about <NUM>% by volume in one embodiment of the original slurry, and from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by volume in another embodiment of the original slurry used to make the layer). The repair slurry may be applied using any conventional method including those described previously, and the resulting "repair(ed) coating" may then be processed as described previously herein before application of any subsequent layer of the EBC.

In an alternate embodiment, repairs may include fixing defects after application and sintering of the entire EBC. In this embodiment, the repair may be carried out on the EBC having defects using a transition layer repair slurry comprising the same materials present in the previously defined transition layer slurry (i.e. primary transition material, a sintering aid, and optionally secondary material). This particular repair slurry can seep into any defects present in the EBC and provide a hermetic seal to the repaired EBC coating after sintering. Again, the solids loading of the transition layer repair slurry may comprise upwards of about <NUM>% to <NUM>% by volume.

Additionally, repair processes may be used to reduce surface roughness of a plasma sprayed EBC having any composition. Specifically, if the surface roughness of a plasma sprayed EBC is unacceptable the coating can be smoothed over by applying either of the previously described transition layer slurry or outer layer slurry. When applied over the plasma sprayed EBC, the transition layer slurry or outer layer slurry can fill in any gaps, grooves, or uneven portions of the plasma sprayed coating and reduce the surface roughness to an acceptable degree. More specifically, depending on the thickness of the transition layer slurry or outer layer slurry, surface roughness of the plasma sprayed EBC can be reduced from greater than <NUM> micrometers Ra (<NUM> micro inch Ra), to between <NUM> micrometer Ra (<NUM> micro inch Ra) and <NUM> micrometers Ra (<NUM> micro inch Ra) in one embodiment, and from between <NUM> micrometer Ra (<NUM> micro inch Ra) to <NUM> micrometers Ra (<NUM> micro inch Ra) in another embodiment. In one embodiment, the transition layer slurry or outer layer slurry can comprise a thickness of at least about <NUM> mils, and in another embodiment from about <NUM> mils to about <NUM> mils. The applied transition layer slurry can then be processed as described previously to produce a repaired EBC having an acceptable surface roughness. Additional slurry layers may be applied to the EBC if desired.

Such repair processes can provide the ability to repair localized defects, at varying points during the application or life of the coating, as opposed to stripping off and reapplying the entire coating. This, in turn, can result in a savings of time, labor, and materials.

Example <NUM>: A silicon bond coat was applied to a SiC-SiC CMC using a conventional air plasma spray process. Next, a primary transition material slurry was made by first mixing yttrium disilicate powder, aluminum oxide powder, water, polyacrylic acid-polyethylene oxide copolymer, Surfynol <NUM>®, and glycerin in a plastic container, along with enough <NUM> inch (<NUM>) diameter, cylindrical alumina media to line the bottom of container. This mixture was placed on a roller mill for <NUM> hours. After taking the container off of the roller mill, the alumina media was removed. Xanthan gum was then added and the mixture was shaken for <NUM> minutes using a paint shaker. Finally, Rhoplex® HA8 emulsion was added and the container was placed back onto the roller mill for <NUM> hour (without media).

The resulting primary transition material slurry (Slurry A) consisted of <NUM>% yttrium disilicate (primary transition material), <NUM>% aluminum oxide (sintering aid), <NUM>% polyacrylic acid-polyethylene oxide copolymer (dispersant), <NUM>% Surfynol <NUM>® (surfactant), <NUM>% xanthan gum (thickener), <NUM>% Rhoplex® HA8 emulsion (latex), <NUM>% glycerin (plasticizer), and the balance water (all percents by weight). The silicon-coated ceramic component was dipped into Slurry A, dried in ambient conditions, and heat-treated at <NUM>/minute to <NUM> to burn out the binder. Then, the component was sintered by heating the component at <NUM>/minute from <NUM> to <NUM> and holding for <NUM> hours to form the transition layer.

Next, a primary compliant material slurry was made by first mixing BSAS powder, yttrium oxide powder, water, polyacrylic acid-polyethylene oxide copolymer, Surfynol <NUM>®, and glycerin in a plastic container, along with enough <NUM> inch (<NUM>) diameter, cylindrical alumina media to line the bottom of container. This mixture was placed on a roller mill for <NUM> hours. After taking the container off of the roller mill, the alumina media was removed. Xanthan gum was then added and the mixture was shaken for <NUM> minutes using a paint shaker. Finally, Rhoplex® HA8 emulsion was added and the container was placed back onto the roller mill for <NUM> hour (without media).

The resulting primary compliant material slurry (Slurry B) consisted of <NUM>% BSAS (primary compliant layer material), <NUM>% yttrium oxide (sintering aid), <NUM>% polyacrylic acid-polyethylene oxide copolymer (dispersant), <NUM>% Surfynol <NUM>® (surfactant), <NUM>% xanthan gum (thickener), <NUM>% Rhoplex® HA8 emulsion (latex), <NUM>% glycerin (plasticizer), and the balance water (all percents by weight). The silicon- and transition-layer coated ceramic component was dipped into Slurry B, dried in ambient conditions, and heat-treated at <NUM>/minute to <NUM> to burn out the binder. Then, the component was sintered by heating the component at <NUM>/minute from <NUM> to <NUM> and holding for <NUM> hours to form the compliant layer.

Claim 1:
A water based slurry composition for making an environmental barrier coating (<NUM>), the slurry composition comprising:
from <NUM> wt% water;
from <NUM> wt% to <NUM> wt% of a primary material, wherein the primary material is a primary transition material, or a primary outer material; wherein the primary transition material is a rare earth disilicate or a doped rare earth disilicate, or wherein the primary outer material is a doped rare earth monosilicate; and
from <NUM> wt% to <NUM> wt% of a slurry sintering aid;
wherein the doped rare earth disilicate of the primary transition material and the doped rare earth monosilicate of the primary outer material comprise a doping composition selected from the group consisting of iron, aluminum, titanium, gallium, nickel, boron, an alkali metal, and alkali earth metal, and an Lnb rare earth metal, wherein Lnb refers to a sub-set of rare earth metals having a melting point below <NUM>, and
wherein the slurry sintering aid for use with the primary transition material and primary outer material is aluminum oxide.