A new laser-CVD process was developed, and succeeded to fabricate ceramic (zirconia) films at a speed of 600 micrometer/h to apply as thermal barrier coating for gas turbine blades. The coating speed (1 to 50 micrometer/h for conventional CVD) was extremely enhanced by a high-power laser radiation. This newly developed process can produce ceramic coating on wide-area and complicated-shaped components at a faster speed than practical plasma spray and EBPVD processes. The ceramic coating had superior corrosion and thermal shock resistance. The result was published in the Japan Industrial Journal as the top news.
Prof. Goto group（Solidification and Casting Metallurgy）