Special Issue: Environmental Barrier Coatings

The global increase in air travel will require commercial vehicles to be more efficient than ever before. Advanced turbine hot section materials are a key technology required to keep fuel consumption and emission to a minimum. Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are the most promising material to revolutionize turbine hot section materials because of their excellent high-temperature properties. Rapid surface recession due to volatilization by water vapor is the Achilles heel of CMCs. Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs), which protect CMCs from water vapor, is an enabling technology for CMCs. The first CMC component entered into service in 2016 in a commercial engine, and more CMC components are scheduled to follow within the next few years. One of the most difficult challenges to CMC components is EBC durability because failure of EBC leads to a rapid reduction in CMC component life. Novel EBC chemistries, creative EBC designs, and robust processes are required to meet EBC durability challenges. Engine-relevant testing, characterization, and lifting methods need to be developed to improve EBC reliability. The aim of this Special Issue is to present recent advances in EBC technology to address current EBC challenges.