MULTILAYER THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME

1 . A multilayer thermal protection system comprising:

a metallic substrate;

a first ceramic layer;

a bond coat layer attaching the first ceramic layer to the metallic substrate, wherein the first ceramic layer is applied to the bond coat layer by plasma spraying;

at least one second ceramic layer attached to the first ceramic layer, wherein the at least one second ceramic layer includes monolithic ceramic elements adhesively attached to the first ceramic layer; and

a ceramic adhesive layer attaching the at least one second ceramic layer to the first ceramic layer.

2 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the monolithic ceramic elements are pre-fabricated elements including at least one of tiles, columnar structures and block structures, and wherein the pre-fabricated elements are pre-manufactured and sintered prior to application to the substrate.

3 . The protection system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the pre-fabricated elements are sintered at temperatures around 1600° C. so as not to undergo further sintering when mounted in a machine.

4 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first ceramic layer includes a thickness in a range of 0.1 to 2 mm, and wherein the at least one second ceramic layer includes a thickness in a range of 2 to 35 mm.

5 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first ceramic layer includes a temperature capability up to and including a temperature of 1150° C., and wherein the at least one second ceramic layer includes a higher temperature capability than the first ceramic layer.

6 . The protection system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the temperature capability of the at least one second ceramic layer is at least 100° C. larger than the temperature capability of the first ceramic layer.

7 . The protection system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the at least one second ceramic layer is a single layer, multilayer, or graded layer system.

8 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one second ceramic layer is at least one of alpha-alumina based and magnesia based.

9 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one second ceramic layer includes at least one surface exposed layer and at least one underlying additional layer, wherein the surface exposed layer is structured as a two-dimensional array of tiles separated by gaps.

10 . The protection system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the tiles include one of rectangular, quadratic, rhombic and hexagonal shape.

11 . The protection system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the gaps between the tiles are one of slots with parallel sidewalls perpendicular to or inclined with respect to a surface plane of the substrate and slots with interlocking shapes.

12 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ceramic adhesive layer is a refractory cement paste layer.

13 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metallic substrate includes a nickel-based superalloy.

14 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bond coat includes at least one of MCrAlY, wherein M═Co, Ni or Co/Ni, and PtAl.

15 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first ceramic layer includes 7YSZ.

16 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ceramic adhesive layer includes at least one interface having mechanical bonding aids.

17 . The protection system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes a part of a component exposed to temperatures above 1400° C.

18 . The protection system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the component is exposed to a hot gas path in a thermal engine.

19 . The protection system as recited in claim 18 , wherein the protection system is selectively coated on the most temperature exposed part of the component exposed to the hot gas path, and wherein a surrounding component is coated with a thermal barrier coating system including a thermal barrier coating layer attached to the metallic substrate via a bond coat layer.

20 . A method for the production of a multilayer thermal protection system comprising:

attaching the first ceramic layer using a bond coat layer on the metallic substrate, the first ceramic layer being applied to the bond coat layer using plasma spraying; and

attaching at least one second ceramic layer on the first ceramic layer using a ceramic adhesive layer, wherein the at least one second ceramic layer includes monolithic ceramic elements adhesively attached to the first ceramic layer.