Durable refractory ceramic coating
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsJerome P. Wittenauer, Sarah D. Reeves, Kenneth W. Benner, Robert D. Yasukawa
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Abstract
An article used for thermal protection includes a base structure having at least one surface. The base structure is made of a ceramic oxide material. A silicide coating is formed on the at least one surface of the base structure. The coating comprises a refractory metal and silicon, which together form a silicide. The coating is at least partially diffused into the base structure at the at least one surface.
Claims12
A method of forming a coated thermal insulation article, comprising the steps of:
- forming a base structure from a ceramic oxide material;
- forming a silicide slurry from a flux agent, a liquid carrier constituent and a powdered constituent which contains silicon and a refractory metal;
- applying the slurry in a predetermined coating weight to a surface of the base structure;
- and
- heating the coated base structure in an oxidizing environment for a time and temperature sufficient to form a solid, substantially 100% silicide coating which is fused to the base structure.
A method of forming a thermal insulation tile for use in space reentry applications, in which the tile is temperature resistant up to 2,950 degrees F., comprising the steps of:
- forming a base structure from a ceramic oxide material;
- and
- forming a solid, substantially 100% silicide coating on at least one surface of the base structure, forming the coating including applying a slurry consisting essentially of a powdered silicide material, a liquid carrier to the at least one surface of the base structure, and a flux agent, and heating the base structure for a time and at a temperature, in an oxidizing environment, sufficient to fuse the silicide material to the base structure and thus from the solid coating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.