Princeton University scientists and engineers, funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, have found a way to extend the life of aircraft engines by zeroing in on the protective layer—called thermal barrier coatings (TBC)— that covers engine components. Through their research, the Princeton scientists have found that TBC thicken during engine use, giving the TBC only up to about 16,000 hours of useful thermal cycling before technicians must take an engine out of service to reapply the coatings or replace parts, costing both time and money. The scientists developed a new and much more stable coating, although it has yet to be heat tested.
A new report from the Government Accountability Office calls for the Pentagon’s Chief Technology Officer to have budget certification authority over the military services’ research and development accounts—a move the services say would add a burdensome and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.
