Application of Nano‐Structured Ceramics to Gas Turbine Components – Material and Fabrication Process Selection

Abstract

The ever increasing demand on the aerospace industry to improve efficiency has pushed the evolution of turbine technology. A fundamental approach to improve the efficiency of the turbine is to increase the operational temperature. Nano‐structured materials present a possible means of achieving higher operating temperatures in turbines over the limits of current materials (nickel based superalloys). Superalloys have a fairly short rupture life as the strength drops off quickly in operation at high temperature for long periods of time, leading to the failure of the component. Ceramics are able to operate at much higher temperatures than metals; however, existing fabrication techniques had not been able to make dense conventional ceramics with the desired long term properties. Nanostructured materials (grain size <100 nm) have been observed to exhibit unique and often superior properties as compared with their conventional grain size counterparts. New innovation in nanostructured ceramics and sintering techniques provide insight into solving the problem of using ceramics in turbine components. In this presentation, the benefits of nanostructured materials, their mechanical properties and their high temperature performance will be discussed. The fracture strength of microstructured and nanostructured high temperature resistant ceramics will be found to evaluate the best candidate for this application. Through available research, we will demonstrate the superior properties of our chosen two‐phase nanostructured Silicon Carbide‐Silicon Nitride (SiC‐Si3N4) Ceramic, which is manufactured using Spark Plasma Sintering.