Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) Lifing Technology Using Solid Solution Luminescence Sensors

Since the remnant life of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) structure depends critically on the temperature history at the TBC/bondcoat interface, the development of viable lifing prognostics requires instrumentation to obtain accurate interface temperature data as input to life models. New advances in embedding highly luminescent lanthanide sensors within the very crystal structure of real TBC materials, and at sufficiently dilute concentrations not to affect the TBC microstructure, provide an opportunity for the first time to monitor temperature at the interface, in real-time, under realistic engine operation conditions. The materials science is being pioneered at the University of California Santa Barbara and forms to basis of our approach. In this Phase II proposal we outline a plan to develop optical sensor instrumentation with a capability to measure temperatures in access of 1200 degrees centigrade, with measurement uncertainty of less then 1 percent, as well as a refined TBC life model. It is further proposed to test the instrumentation in a thermal gradient burner rig, providing accurate input data for life models. The Phase II program provides an opportunity to transition this technology from the laboratory to potential future use on actual turbines for TBC life testing.