The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 15, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 13, 1998
Dennis Michael Gray, Delanson, NY (US);
Wayne Charles Hasz, Pownal, VT (US);
Timothy Francis Bethel, Ballston Lake, NY (US);
Curtis Alan Johnson, Schenectady, NY (US);
Marcus Preston Borom, Niskayuna, NY (US);
General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A method for providing a substantially-smooth protective coating on a metal-based substrate is disclosed. A thermal barrier coating is first applied over the substrate by plasma-spraying. The coating is then plasma-heated according to a time- and temperature schedule sufficient to re-melt its surface region, allowing the coating material to flow and smoothen. The surface region is then allowed to cool to a temperature below its melting point. After being cooled, the surface is much smoother than when originally applied, which allows the coating to be used in a higher-temperature environment. The coating is often zirconia-based, e.g., yttria-stabilized zirconia.