Ceramic Components in Gas Turbine Engines: Why Has It Taken So Long?

Extensive efforts have been in progress worldwide since the late 1960s to develop ceramic turbine components, particularly since the introduction of high-strength silicon nitride and silicon carbide materials. This paper identifies the difficult challenges that have been encountered and highlights some of the key milestones in overcoming these challenges. Issues of improvements in material properties (especially long term durability at high temperature), property measurement and standards, component fabrication, quality assurance, design methodology for brittle materials, life prediction codes, and accumulation of rig and engine testing are all discussed. Read more... Abstract: Extensive efforts have been in progress worldwide since the late 1960s to develop ceramic turbine components, particularly since the introduction of high-strength silicon nitride and silicon carbide materials. This paper identifies the difficult challenges that have been encountered and highlights some of the key milestones in overcoming these challenges. Issues of improvements in material properties (especially long term durability at high temperature), property measurement and standards, component fabrication, quality assurance, design methodology for brittle materials, life prediction codes, and accumulation of rig and engine testing are all discussed During the past fifty years, significant progress has been achieved in the theory and application of SiAlONs and other similar non-oxide ceramics. In particular, the advances of the last thirty years in research and development have made SiAlONs, and similar materials, some of the most important engineering ceramics and new functional ceramics of today. A collection of Papers Presented at the 28th International Conference and Exposition on Advanced Ceramics and Composites held in conjunction with the 8th International Symposium on Ceramics in Energy Storage and Power Conversion Systems.