IP Library Granted Patent US 10,919,180
Granted Patent B2
US 10,919,180 · App. 16/270,660 · Granted Feb 16, 2021

Repair process using networked ceramic nanofibers

Inventor: Zhongfen Ding (South Windsor, CT)
Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
B28B1/34B28B11/0845
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,919,180
App. No.
16/270,660
Granted
Feb 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A repair process for an article such as an airfoil includes providing an article that has a substrate and a ceramic barrier coating disposed on the substrate, where the ceramic barrier coating has a damaged region, abrading the damaged region to provide dimple in the ceramic barrier coating, wherein a remaining region of the ceramic barrier coating adjacent the dimple remains intact, and depositing a patch of networked ceramic nanofibers in the dimple.

Claims (24)

1. A repair process comprising:

providing an article that has a substrate and a ceramic barrier coating disposed on the substrate, wherein the ceramic barrier coating has a porous columnar microstructure that includes microstructural columns that define elongated pores there between and the ceramic barrier coating has a damaged region;

abrading the damaged region to provide a dimple in the ceramic barrier coating, wherein a remaining region of the ceramic barrier coating adjacent the dimple remains intact; and

depositing a patch of networked ceramic nanofibers in the dimple, wherein the networked ceramic nanofibers comprise filaments that are non-linear and intertwined so as to form a porous network, the filaments being bonded together at locations where the filaments contact each other, and wherein the networked ceramic nanofibers extend into the elongated pores and interlock with the elongated pores and surface roughness of the dimple such that the networked ceramic nanofibers are secured to the ceramic barrier coating.

2. The process as recited in claim 1 , wherein the abrading includes spraying the damaged region with an abrasive media.

3. The process as recited in claim 2 , wherein the abrasive media includes dry ice.

4. The process as recited in claim 1 , wherein the damaged region is a spalled or worn region.

5. The process as recited in claim 1 , wherein the depositing includes blow-spinning and sintering.

6. The process as recited in claim 5 , wherein the sintering includes heating using an energy beam.

7. The process as recited in claim 1 , further comprising polishing the patch to be flat with the remaining region of the ceramic barrier coating adjacent the patch.

8. The process as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ceramic nanofibers include zirconium oxide.

9. The process as recited in claim 8 , wherein the ceramic nanofibers are selected from the group consisting of yttria stabilized zirconia, gadolinia zirconate, rare earth stabilizer doped zirconate, and combinations thereof, and the ceramic barrier coating is selected from the group consisting of yttria stabilized zirconia, gadolinia zirconate, rare earth stabilizer doped zirconate, and combinations thereof.

10. The process as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ceramic barrier coating has a thickness t1 taken at the remaining portion adjacent the damaged region, and the patch has a thickness t2 that is less than the thickness t1.

11. The process as recited in claim 1 , wherein the filaments are flexible and act as a bumper against particle impacts.

12. The process as recited in claim 1 , wherein introducing the filaments into the elongated pores includes using blow-spinning.

13. A repair process comprising:

providing an airfoil that has a substrate and a ceramic barrier coating disposed on the substrate, wherein the ceramic barrier coating has a porous columnar microstructure that includes microstructural columns that define elongated pores there between and the ceramic barrier coating has a damaged region;

abrading the damaged region to provide a dimple in the ceramic barrier coating, wherein a remaining region of the ceramic barrier coating adjacent the dimple remains intact; and

depositing a patch of networked ceramic nanofibers in the dimple, wherein the networked ceramic nanofibers comprise filaments that are non-linear and intertwined so as to form a porous network, the filaments being bonded together at locations where the filaments contact each other, and wherein the networked ceramic nanofibers extend into the elongated pores and interlock with the elongated pores and surface roughness of the dimple such that the networked ceramic nanofibers are secured to the ceramic barrier coating.

14. The process as recited in claim 13 , wherein the abrading includes spraying the damaged region with an abrasive media.

15. The process as recited in claim 14 , wherein the abrasive media includes dry ice.

16. The process as recited in claim 13 , wherein the damaged region is a spalled or worn region.

17. The process as recited in claim 13 , wherein the depositing includes blow-spinning and sintering.

18. The process as recited in claim 17 , wherein the sintering includes heating using an energy beam.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING ON THE ADDRESS 10 FARM SPRINGD ROAD FARMINGTONCONNECTICUT 06032 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 057190 FRAME 0719. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT SPELLING OF THE ADDRESS 10 FARM SPRINGS ROAD FARMINGTON CONNECTICUT 06032. Recorded Aug 19, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057226/0390 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 16, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057190/0719 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2019
From: DING, ZHONGFEN
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048272/0953 →