Metallic and ceramic coatings enhance the quality of today's gas turbine engines by enabling them to run longer and 'by increasing their reliability and efficiency of operation. Coatings give design engineers more latitude in their choice of materials for highperformance applications. Discussed here are the characteristics of coatings produced by three different means: detonation-gun process, plasma process, and diffusion process. By considering the following three parameters: (a) the nature of

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... wear and corrosion problems in gas turbine engines, (b) the results of coated components in commercial service, and (c) the cost savings attributable to coatings, we can develop guidelines for even more effective use of coatings in the future.