A method of making a ceramic matrix composite is disclosed. According to the method, a first preform comprising fibers is formed, and a second preform including a helical surface portion is inserted into the first preform. The first preform with the inserted second preform is infiltrated with a matrix material comprising a ceramic to form the ceramic matrix composite. A ceramic matrix composite is also disclosed. The ceramic matrix composite includes a first portion including a matrix comprising a ceramic, and a reinforcement including fibers derived from the first preform in the matrix. A second portion including a helical surface portion interface with the first portion is disposed within the first portion.

The disclosure describes articles having coating systems configured to inhibit or prevent crystallization of TGO at the operating temperature of the article. An article includes a substrate defining a surface; a bond coat on the surface of the substrate; a coating layer that includes a boron dopant configured to inhibit crystallization of amorphous silicon dioxide thermally grown oxide on the bond coat at an operating temperature of the article. By inhibiting or preventing TGO crystallization, the described coating systems may increase a useable life of the component.

The disclosure describes articles having coating systems configured to inhibit or prevent crystallization of TGO at the operating temperature of the article. An article includes a substrate defining a surface; a bond coat on the surface of the substrate; a coating layer that includes a boron dopant configured to inhibit crystallization of amorphous silicon dioxide thermally grown oxide on the bond coat at an operating temperature of the article. By inhibiting or preventing TGO crystallization, the described coating systems may increase a useable life of the component.

Coating systems are provided for positioning on a surface of a substrate, along with the resulting coated components and methods of their formation. The coating system may include a layer having a compound of the formula: A.sub.1bB.sub.bZ.sub.1dD.sub.dMO.sub.6 where: A is Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Fe, Cr, Co, Mn, Bi, or a mixture thereof; b is 0 to about 0.5; Z is Hf, Ti, or a mixture thereof; D is Zr, Ce, Ge, Si, or a mixture thereof; d is 0 to about 0.5; and M is Ta, Nb, or a mixture thereof.

Coating systems are provided for positioning on a surface of a substrate, along with the resulting coated components and methods of their formation. The coating system may include a layer having a compound of the formula: A.sub.1bB.sub.bZ.sub.1dD.sub.dMO.sub.6 where: A is Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Fe, Cr, Co, Mn, Bi, or a mixture thereof; b is 0 to about 0.5; Z is Hf, Ti, or a mixture thereof; D is Zr, Ce, Ge, Si, or a mixture thereof; d is 0 to about 0.5; and M is Ta, Nb, or a mixture thereof.

The invention relates to a method of fabricating a turbine engine blade out of composite material comprising fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix, the blade comprising an airfoil, a platform situated at a longitudinal end of the airfoil, and at least one functional element projecting from the outside face of the platform. The method comprises: making a single-piece fiber blank by multilayer weaving; shaping the fiber blank to obtain a single-piece fiber preform having a first portion (302) forming a preform for the blade airfoil (320) and a second portion (314) forming a preform for the platform (340) and at least one preform for a functional element (352; 354); and densifying the fiber preform with a matrix.

The second preform portion comprises a set of yarn layers interlinked by weaving with at least one zone of non-interlinking being provided to make it possible to deploy the functional element preform relative to the first platform preform.

The invention relates to a method of fabricating a turbine engine blade out of composite material comprising fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix, the blade comprising an airfoil, a platform situated at a longitudinal end of the airfoil, and at least one functional element projecting from the outside face of the platform. The method comprises: making a single-piece fiber blank by multilayer weaving; shaping the fiber blank to obtain a single-piece fiber preform having a first portion (302) forming a preform for the blade airfoil (320) and a second portion (314) forming a preform for the platform (340) and at least one preform for a functional element (352; 354); and densifying the fiber preform with a matrix.

The second preform portion comprises a set of yarn layers interlinked by weaving with at least one zone of non-interlinking being provided to make it possible to deploy the functional element preform relative to the first platform preform.

A method of fabricating parts out of metallic, intermetallic, ceramic, ceramic matrix composite, or metal matrix composite material with discontinuous reinforcement, includes melting or sintering powder particles by means of a high-energy beam. The powder used is a single powder of particles that present sphericity lying in the range 0.8 to 1.0 and of form factor lying in the range 1 to 2, each powder particle presenting substantially identical mean composition, and the grain size distribution of the particles of the powder is narrowed around the mean diameter value d50% in such a manner that: (d90%d50%)/d50%0.66; and (d50%d10%)/d50%0.33; with a span: (d90%d10%)/d50%1.00.

A method of fabricating parts out of metallic, intermetallic, ceramic, ceramic matrix composite, or metal matrix composite material with discontinuous reinforcement, includes melting or sintering powder particles by means of a high-energy beam. The powder used is a single powder of particles that present sphericity lying in the range 0.8 to 1.0 and of form factor lying in the range 1 to 2, each powder particle presenting substantially identical mean composition, and the grain size distribution of the particles of the powder is narrowed around the mean diameter value d50% in such a manner that: (d90%d50%)/d50%0.66; and (d50%d10%)/d50%0.33; with a span: (d90%d10%)/d50%1.00.

This invention relates to structures and processing imparting self-healing characteristics in Iron, Copper, Zinc, Magnesium, Nickel, Titanium, Gold, Silver and their alloys, and other materials including polymers and ceramics. The composite disclosed consists of a matrix with dispersed hollow macro, micro and nanotubes or balloons or fibers encapsulating a lower melting point or liquid healing material; self-healing results from flow of liquid healing agent into the crack. Another type of self-healing material is where the cracks are subjected to compressive stresses due to phase transformations in the matrix or reinforcement, including nano structure matrix and nanosize reinforcements. The compressive stresses could be due to shrinkage of shape memory material in the form of fibers, micro and nano size which deform, or reinforcements when expand upon reaction with atmosphere sealing the crack. The invention includes self-healing due to hollow vascular networks through which healing agent can flow and seal the crack.