Abstract:
A method of upgrading an aluminide coating on a used turbine engine component to a platinum aluminide coating. The method involves cleaning at least one surface of the component to remove hot corrosion products from the surface without damaging the aluminide coating. In one embodiment, the cleaning step involves immersing the component in a heated solution comprising acetic acid while agitating the solution using ultrasonic energy. A layer of platinum is then deposited onto the cleaned surface of the component. A second aluminide coating is then formed on the surface of the component to upgrade the component. The invention also relates to a turbine engine component, e.g., a turbine blade, having a metal-based substrate and a platinum aluminide coating on at least one surface thereof, which coating has been upgraded from an aluminide coating originally on the component using the above method.
Abstract:
A method for controlled removal of a portion of a diffusion coating from the outer surface of a nickel-containing superalloy article. A diffusion coating typically includes a diffusion layer between an outer aluminide layer and the nickel-containing substrate. The method includes contacting the coated superalloy article in a preselected chemical stripping solution for a preselected period of time sufficient to remove only the outer aluminide layer, without substantially affecting the diffusion layer underlying the outer aluminide layer. After neutralizing the stripping solution, the article can be inspected and repaired as needed. The aluminide outer layer can then be restored in a conventional manner.