Development of the Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2 glass for thermal barrier coating

• Published in: Journal of non-crystalline solids Vol. 626; p. 122785
• Main Authors: Qiu, Jun-Yan, Montecillo, Rhys, Chen, Pin-Yi, Tu, Chi-Shun, Chen, Cheng-Sao, Fu, Ben-Ran, Feng, Kuei-Chih
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.02.2024
• Subjects: Aluminum borosilicate glass; Borosilicate glass; Space vehicle; Thermal protection system (TPS); α-cristobalite; Space vehicle; α-cristobalite; Thermal protection system (TPS); Aluminum borosilicate glass; Borosilicate glass
• ISSN: 0022-3093; 1873-4812
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2023.122785

Glass coating is an important thermal insulation technique used in the aerospace industry that serves as a thermal protection system (TPS) to protect the inner layer at elevated temperatures. This work highlights the superb mechanical and thermal properties of the B2O3-SiO2 glass systems as a surface coating for space shuttle. In the B2O3-SiO2 system, the glass transition temperature raises from 650 °C to 750 °C with increasing SiO2 content and devitrification of the α-cristobalite phase. The Al2O3 addition in B2O3-SiO2 glass can increase the glass transition temperature from 750 °C to 1000 °C and inhibit the α-cristobalite phase. The phase transition from an unstable α-cristobalite phase to an amorphous phase was achieved at 10 wt% Al2O3-added specimens. This study demonstrates that the Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2 glass (ABS glass) exhibits thermally stable behavior, making it an effective thermal barrier coating at elevated temperatures.