Scientists at Tomsk Polytechnic University have developed a new method for creating thermal barrier coatings for aircraft engine parts and gas turbines. The technology allows for increasing the strength and wear resistance of materials and more precisely controlling their properties for different operating conditions.
The development is particularly important for prospective power plants, including the PD-35 engine — the base engine for future wide-body aircraft.
Currently, the key problem for turbine engines is the destruction of protective layers at extreme temperatures. In the hot sections of the engine, temperatures can reach values at which standard oxide coatings begin to crack and delaminate.
The new technology uses plasma spraying of special compositions, forming thin and uniform layers without preliminary powder synthesis. By selecting the composition, the coating properties can be varied — from increased thermal insulation to resistance to mechanical loads.
ODK continues to work on the PD-35 technology demonstrator engine, as stated by General Designer Alexander Inozemtsev.
