Turbine engine blades, related articles, and methods

Abstract

A compressor blade generally used in turbine engines is presented. The compressor blade includes a protective covering bonded to a tip portion of the blade with a braze material. The braze material includes from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of an active metal element, based on the total amount of the braze material. A compressor rotor is also provided that includes a plurality of the compressor blades. A method for joining a protective covering to a tip portion of a compressor blade, and a method for repair of a compressor blade, are also provided.

1 . A compressor blade, comprising a protective covering bonded to a tip portion by a braze material, wherein the braze material comprises from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of an active element, based on the total amount of the braze material. 
     
     
         2 . The compressor blade of  claim 1 , formed of a material comprising titanium, iron, or an alloy containing one or more thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The compressor blade of  claim 1 , formed of a titanium-based alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The compressor blade of  claim 1 , formed of stainless steel. 
     
     
         5 . The compressor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the protective covering comprises a hard ceramic material. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor blade of  claim 5 , wherein the protective covering comprises aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium boride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium carbo-nitride, titanium boro nitride, chrome carbide, chrome nitride, chrome boride, molycarbide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the protective covering is present in the form of a preform, a sheet, a wafer, or a wire. 
     
     
         8 . The compressor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the protective covering has a thickness in a range from about 50 microns to about 1000 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The compressor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the braze material comprises copper, silver, gold, zinc, manganese, tin, nickel, molybdenum, or an alloy containing one or more thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The compressor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the active metal element is in a range from about 2 weight percent to about 6 weight percent, based on the total weight of the braze material. 
     
     
         11 . The compressor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the active metal element comprises titanium, hafnium, vanadium, or zirconium. 
     
     
         12 . A compressor rotor, comprising a plurality of blades in accordance with  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 disposing a braze material between a surface of a protective covering and a tip portion of a compressor blade, wherein the braze material comprises an active metal element in an amount from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent, based on the total amount of the braze material; and   joining the protective covering to the tip portion by heating the braze material to form a braze joint between the tip portion and the protective covering.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the protective covering comprises a hard ceramic material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the protective covering comprises aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium boride, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium carbo-nitride, titanium boro nitride, chrome carbide, chrome nitride, chrome boride, molycarbide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the protective covering is present in the form of a preform, a sheet, a wafer, or a wire. 
     
     
         17 . A method for repair of a compressor blade, comprising the steps of:
 (i) removing a portion of a worn or damaged tip of the blade from a tip portion of the blade; and   (ii) providing a protective covering on the tip portion of the blade such that the protective covering replaces at least a portion of the removed portion of the tip of the blade, and wherein providing the protective covering comprises the steps of:
 disposing a braze material between a surface of the protective covering and a tip portion of a compressor blade, wherein the braze material comprises an active metal element in an amount from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent based on the total amount of the braze material; and 
 joining the protective covering to the tip portion by heating the braze material, to form a braze joint between the tip portion and the protective covering.