Scientists use nanocomposites to improve thermal block coatings

Iranian researchers from Materials and Energy Researcher Center tried to modify the properties of thermal insulations used in turbines and thermal engines through nanotechnology.
Results of the research may help the increase in thermal efficiency and lifetime of gas turbines and diesel engines. Thermal block coating (TBC) is a thermal insulation that is used in gas turbines and engines. Among other applications of the coating, mention can be made of protecting thermal and mechanical pieces against hot corrosion and erosion which increases the lifetime of the pieces.
When the results of the research are used in thermal block coatings, thermal loss decreases and concurrently average temperature in combustion chamber increases in diesel engine and gas turbine. In other words, the results of the research help increasing thermal efficiency of diesel engines and decrease their fuel consumption.
Alumina coating has been created in this research through atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) method. This method has higher efficiency but less cost in comparison with methods such as vapor deposition by using electron radiation.
To put it in brief, in case the operation to create nanostructured coatings takes place correctly, it can improve the properties for various applications, including resistance to abrasion, hardness, elasticity module, cohesion strength, resistance to heat diffusion, resistance to thermal shock and resistance to cyclic oxidation.
Results of the research have been published in Ceramics International, vol 40, issue 3, April 2014, pp. 4579-4590.