Coatings for performance retention

Abstract

Performance and performance retention are becoming increasingly important in today’s gas turbine engines. The military aircraft engine operator wants the flexibility and flight envelope that increased performance will give, and the commercial user—aircraft, utility generation, or pumper—demands the long term fuel economy that improved performance retention will provide. Materials advances have provided the intrinsic strength and temperature increases to push the capability of today’s engines, and coatings have been an integral part of that advancement. Specifically, in the performance retention area, coatings and seal systems have become increasingly important in both compressor and turbine components. It is the intent of this overview paper to present a brief review of the coating systems presently in use and in development and to consider areas in which the technology might be heading.