GE Aviation has formed a joint venture (JV) with Italian firm Turbocoating, to produce thermal barrier coatings for ceramic matrix composite components used in aircraft engines.

Called Advanced Ceramic Coatings (ACC), the 50:50 JV will be based at Turbocoating’s operations in Hickory, North Carolina, US.

The ACC will benefit from Turbocoating’s and GE Aviation’s coatings technologies and industrial processes to produce advanced coatings used in GE’s high-temperature CMCs in the post-fabrication phase.

"The joint investment is part of GE Aviation’s strategy to create the supply chain required to produce large volumes of CMCs."

The joint investment is part of GE Aviation’s strategy to create the supply chain required to produce large volumes of CMCs.

Last month, the company opened a new facility in Asheville, North Carolina, to produce CMCs.

Made of silicon carbide ceramic fibres and ceramic matrix, the CMCs are enhanced with coatings and have one-third the density of metal alloys, which helps reduce the overall weight of the engine.

The ACC plans to deliver the first production of coated components in the end of 2015, including CMC shrouds for CFM’s LEAP engine.

The LEAP is said to be the first-of-its-kind to use CMCs in the hot high-pressure turbine section.

Scheduled to enter service in 2016, the LEAP engine is undergoing development testing. It will be equipped on the Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX, and COMAC C919 airliners.

GE Aviation said it will use CMCs in the combustor and high-pressure turbine section of the GE9X engine, which is designed to power the Boeing 777X.

Defence Technology