Erosion in Gas-Turbine Grade Ceramic Matrix Composites

Abstract

Erosion behavior of a large number of gas-turbine grade ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) was assessed using fine to medium grain garnet erodents at velocities of 200 and 300 m/s at ambient temperature. The CMCs used in the current work were comprised of nine different SiC/SiCs, one SiC/C, one C/SiC, one SiC/MAS, and one oxide/oxide. Erosion damage was quantified with respect to erosion rate and the damage morphology was assessed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy in conjunction with three-dimensional (3D) image mapping. The CMCs response to erosion appeared to be very complicated due to their architectural complexity, multiple material constituents, and presence of pores. Effects of architecture, material constituents, density, matrix hardness, and elastic modulus of the CMCs were taken into account and correlated to overall erosion behavior. The erosion of monolithic ceramics such as silicon carbide and silicon nitrides was also examined to gain a better understanding of the governing damage mechanisms for the CMC material systems used in this work.

Solid particle erosion in ceramic matrix composites and environmental barrier coatings: A perspective

“…7 Figure 2(B) and (C) features leading and trailing edge erosion of additional hot-section hardware where removal of the thermal barrier coating (TBC) and damage to the underlying superalloy substrate is evident. 1 It is worthwhile to note that abrasive media responsible for SPE damage such as volcanic ash and sand can also pose a corrosion hazard when the gas temperature in the hot sections of the engine exceeds the melting temperature of the particulate. Nevertheless, it is important to characterize and develop a fundamental understanding of SPE in gas turbine hot section materials.…”

“…Material removal due to the repeated impact of solid particles, termed solid particle erosion (SPE), is a common phenomenon that is observed in both the cold and hot sections of gas turbine engines operating in particulateladen environments. [1][2][3][4] SPE is of particular concern for military aircraft which often operate in harsh, erosive environments, [1][2] but the phenomenon is also encountered by commercial aircraft. [3][4] SPE in gas turbine engines can occur while taxiing or during takeoff due to the ingestion of particulates from the runway, or at altitude as a result of airborne particles.…”

The Versatility of HVOF Burner Rig Testing for Ceramic Matrix Composite Evaluation

“…Such conditions can result in hard particle erosion or molten deposition onto CMC and/or CMC/EBC materials. For hard particle erosion, considerable work has been performed by Choi and coworkers on many different substrate materials at room temperature [32,33]. However, no work had been performed at an elevated temperature.…”

Diffusion bonding of SiC ceramics with interlayers of metallic titanium foils and PVD titanium coatings

“…Advanced manufacturing of SiC using additive manufacturing is also being pursued for nuclear applications. 3 In addition, SiC/SiC composites are being developed for aircraft turbine engine applications [4][5][6][7][8] for such components as combustors 4 and vanes. [4][5][6][7][8] Continuous carbon fiber-reinforced SiC matrix (C/SiC) composites are being developed for aircraft brake applications.…”

“…3 In addition, SiC/SiC composites are being developed for aircraft turbine engine applications [4][5][6][7][8] for such components as combustors 4 and vanes. [4][5][6][7][8] Continuous carbon fiber-reinforced SiC matrix (C/SiC) composites are being developed for aircraft brake applications. 9 In order to build up larger and more complex shapes, joining technologies are needed to fabricate the SiC-based components.…”