THERMAL BARRIER COATINGS FOR AIRCRAFT TUR BINE AIRFOILS - STATE-OF-THE-ART AND PERSPECTIVES

This paper presents a short overview on thermal barrier coatings for a ircraft engines. These coatings designed to protect airfoils in the ho ttest stages of gas turbines represent an important challenge, both te chnical and economical. After a description of the different processes (commercial and experimental) used to deposit these coatings and the materials employed, with their limits, the main research and developme nt themes are briefly outlined: life prediction modelling, thermal con ductivity, oxide growth at the ceramic/metal interface, search for alt ernative materials for higher temperatures.