How can the efficiency of hydrogen-powered aircraft engines be increased while ensuring the durability of materials operating at extreme temperatures? This is one of the key challenges addressed by the partners of the international TBC4H2 project. The project meeting and accompanying workshops held in Paris provided an opportunity to discuss research progress, coordinate further activities and present the project achievements to representatives of the aviation and energy sectors.
At the end of June, representatives of the Łukasiewicz – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology (Łukasiewicz – GIT), acting as the project coordinator of TBC4H2 – “Thermal Barrier Coatings for greener heat-to-power applications: understanding limits of operation under hydrogen combustion and sustainable outlook”, participated in a project meeting and workshops organised in Paris within the framework of the M-ERA.NET initiative.
The meeting brought together partners representing six scientific and industrial organisations from Poland, France and Germany. It provided an opportunity to review the progress achieved so far, discuss current research results and coordinate further research activities. The joint efforts of the project teams combine expertise in materials engineering, coating technologies and the requirements of the aviation and energy industries.
Łukasiewicz – GIT was represented by dr hab. inż. Radosław Swadźba and mgr inż. Agnieszka Sasiela , who together with project partners, participated in discussions on research progress, current results and future directions for the development of the project.
The meeting brought together representatives of six scientific and industrial partners from Poland, France and Germany. It was an opportunity to exchange knowledge, discuss research outcomes and coordinate the next stages of cooperation. The partners’ activities combine competences in materials engineering, advanced coating technologies and the needs of modern aviation and energy industries.
The TBC4H2 consortium includes: Łukasiewicz – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology as the project coordinator, Silesian University of Technology and Avio Aero, a GE Aerospace company from Poland, MINES Paris – PSL from France and Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS and Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) from Germany.
The second day of the event was dedicated to workshops addressed to representatives of the aviation and energy sectors. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the project achievements, research results and the potential of the developed technologies. The meeting provided a valuable platform for exchanging experience and discussing future industrial applications of the solutions being developed.
The TBC4H2 project focuses on investigating the behaviour of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) used in aircraft engine turbine components operating under extreme conditions. Particular attention is given to the impact of very high temperatures and environments with increased water vapour content, which are characteristic of hydrogen combustion processes.
The project investigates coatings produced using advanced technologies such as Suspension Plasma Spraying (SPS) and Electron Beam Physical Vapour Deposition (EB-PVD), deposited on single-crystal nickel-based superalloys with different types of bond coatings. Understanding the degradation mechanisms of these materials will enable future increases in turbine operating temperatures, improved engine efficiency and reduced fuel consumption.
The solutions developed within the TBC4H2 project contribute to global efforts towards climate neutrality and the transformation of the aviation sector. The project demonstrates how cooperation between science and industry can support the development of technologies enabling more efficient and sustainable aviation of the future.
The project is funded by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) in Poland, the French National Research Agency (ANR) in France and the Sächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft, Kultur und Tourismus (SMWK) in Germany.
