Search

Microlaminate composites consisting of alternate layers of metal-metal, metal-ceramic and ceramic-ceramic exhibit anisotropy in thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity in the direction perpendicular to the laminate plane is significantly lower than in the plane of the laminate. Results of the study on thermal conductivity of Ni-NiCoCrAlY and Ti-CoCrAlY microlaminate composites are presented. A semi-quantitative model explaining the thermal conductivity variation in the above systems as a function of number of layers is discussed. An expression correlating the experimental data with the calculated data for the above system is presented.

Temperature measurements of Mo-Si-based thin-film resistance thermometers were studied. Annealing in an argon ambient at a temperature above 1000 C for at least 1 h is required to form the stable tetragonal MoSi2 phase. With a crack-free 2-micron-thick AlN barrier layer on top, a sensor was tested up to 1200 C. The resistivity vs temperature characteristic shows the room temperature resistivity and temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) of the sensor to be approximately 350 microohm and 0.01195 K, respectively. No film adhesion problems were observed for at least four testing cycles.

Thick multiple-layered Ni/NiCoCrAlY and Ti/CoCrAlY microlaminate composites are explored as thermal barrier coatings. The method of fabrication of these laminates and the measurement technique used to determine thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of these coatings are discussed. Results indicate that the thermal conductivity of the laminate composite perpendicular to the laminate plane decreases with increasing number of interfaces; the drop in thermal conductivity is likely to be associated with interfaces which act as a barrier to the transfer of heat across them; the variation in thermal conductivity with the number of interfaces is not linear.

The effect of pretreatments on the morphology and properties of aluminum oxide thermally grown from NiCoCrAlY was investigated. The goal was to optimize process steps to produce a highly adherent, continuous, and insulating aluminum oxide. Two pretreatments were carried out, one in vacuum (about 0.0001 Torr) at 1350 K for 5 h, and the other consisting of deposition of a 1-micron thick Al2O3 film by activated reactive evaporation. Samples were subsequently oxidized thermally at 1000 C for 50 h at 0.5 Torr oxygen pressure. The two pretreatments were carried out on electron-beam evaporation NiCoCrAlY, about 120 microns thick, deposited on a superalloy turbine blade substrate. The results showed that the thermally grown oxide was significantly different in microstructure, surface topography and in its adherence to the NiCoCrAlY for the two pretreatments. Optimum results were obtained by combining the two pretreatments to produce an adherent, continuous, and insulating oxide film on the NiCoCrAlY-coated superalloy substrate.

Ceramic thermal barrier coatings suffer from a major drawback, i.e., brittle behavior. An alternate approach is microlaminate composite coatings consisting of alternate layers of metal and oxide. As the thickness of the individual laminae decrease while keeping the total thickness of the coating constant, the thermal conductivity drops markedly. Data on the Fe-Cu system will be presented. A model is proposed for an MCrAlY-Al2O3 microlaminate coating for thermal barriers. The methods of fabrication will also be discussed.