Impact highlights
- This research significantly reduced the risk of Rolls-Royce plc introducing thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) onto key components of in-service engines.
- The introduction of TBCs has improved engine performance and allowed fuel consumption to be reduced.
- The ongoing research will enable the design of next-generation coatings crucial to future aeroplane performance and efficiency levels.
Professor Ping Xiao
Ping Xiao is Professor of Materials Science and Rolls-Royce/Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Advanced Coating Technology.
Addressing the problem with thermal barrier coatings
Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) enable engine components to operate in demanding thermal and environmental conditions during service operation. Improved TBCs, and the protection they offer, allows engines to run hotter and more efficiently. Determining the long-term performance of new TBCs, especially what can cause them to degrade and fall off, was too complex to predict using standard laboratory tests, but was needed before introducing them into an engine.
An innovative methodology to reduce risk
Materials scientists at Manchester, led by Professor Ping Xiao, developed a stringent methodology of novel testing processes to accurately predict the mechanical, chemical and physical performance of TBCs across the lifetime of a commercial jet engine when subjected to high temperatures and mechanical loads.
They developed tests focused on three key material characteristics:
“The research and technology development done by Professor Ping Xiao's team and Rolls-Royce plc is fundamental in the risk reduction of TBCs. The technology is fundamental in our next-generation coating technology advances and business sustainability goals as we drive towards net zero.”
Dr Elizabeth Williams-Duncan
Chief of Materials (Civil Aerospace), Rolls-Royce plc
- multidimensional residual stress;
- the strength of the interface between the TBC coating and the engine parts;
- interfacial adhesion.
Delivering cost and carbon savings
The University's research significantly reduced the risk of Rolls-Royce plc introducing TBCs onto key components of in-service engines. The heightened confidence in the lifelong TBC system performance allowed an increase in engine cycle temperatures, boosting engine performance and reducing specific fuel consumption.
More than 4,000 in-service Rolls-Royce Trent series engines utilise TBC coatings assured by Manchester testing strategies. Since 2013, the Trent series engines have recorded 70 million flight hours. An average 2% fuel saving over 70 million flight hours is equivalent to a saving of 3.6 million tonnes of fuel, worth approximately £1.5 billion in fuel costs and an 11.2-million-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.
Rolls-Royce plc is developing next-generation materials for use in gas turbines, where temperatures can reach 2,000°C. The materials used must meet increasingly stringent environmental, performance and fuel efficiency targets while ensuring that Rolls-Royce plc maintains its international competitive advantage.
Professor Ping Xiao’s research helped develop the understanding of the current generation of coating’s performance limits, and the ongoing research will enable the design of next-generation coatings crucial to future aeroplane performance and efficiency levels.
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Research detail
Supporting researcher
Xiaofeng Zhao
Connected activity
- Residual stresses in thermal barrier coatings measured by photoluminescence piezospectroscopy and indentation technique (article)
- Evolution of interfacial toughness of a thermal barrier system with a Pt-diffused γ/γ′ bond coat (article)
- Effect of platinum on the durability of thermal barrier systems with a γ + γ′ bond coat (article)
Project partners
- Henry Royce Institute
- Manchester's advanced materials research beacon