Efficiency of aircraft turbine engines are based on Brayton cycle. From this cycle we can understand, to improve engine efficiency, we need to increase temperature of air exiting the compressor. This leads to higher combustor temperatures too. This necessitates an additional high temperature protective layer called Thermal barrier coatings.

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This is a phase diagram of yttria stabilized zirconia which has been used as the material for thermal barrier coating in turbine engines to protect turbine blades from extreme temperatures. This materials has been in use over the last 50 years.

However, YSZ coatings are not "prime reliant" because of which we are unable to increase current engine working temperatures beyond 1523K

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Alexa Young

Robert Rose

Kevin Nye

Lisa Driver