Closure of cooling holes with a filing agent

Abstract

A component of a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of first cooling holes extending between an outer surface and an inner surface of the component, the plurality of first cooling holes being filled with a filling agent, the filling agent being cured to solid form to block the flow of cooling fluid though the plurality of first cooling holes; a thermal barrier coating over the outer surface of the component and completely covering the cured filling agent; and a plurality of second cooling holes penetrating the thermal barrier coating and extending between the outer surface and the inner surface, the plurality of second cooling holes allowing cooling fluid to pass therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A component of a gas turbine engine comprising:
 a plurality of first cooling holes extending between an outer surface and an inner surface of the component, the plurality of first cooling holes being filled with a filling agent, the filling agent being cured to solid form to block the flow of cooling fluid though the plurality of first cooling holes;   a thermal barrier coating over the outer surface of the component and completely covering the cured filling agent; and   a plurality of second cooling holes penetrating the thermal barrier coating and extending between the outer surface and the inner surface, the plurality of second cooling holes allowing cooling fluid to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The component of  claim 1  wherein the thermal barrier coating comprises a ceramic top coating overlying a metallic bond coating. 
     
     
         3 . The component of  claim 1  wherein the outer surface is free of filling agent. 
     
     
         4 . The component of  claim 1  wherein the filling agent is selected from the group consisting of an enamel and a ceramic paste. 
     
     
         5 . The component of  claim 4  wherein the enamel is vitreous enamel. 
     
     
         6 . The component of  claim 4  wherein the enamel is staved enamel. 
     
     
         7 . The component of  claim 4  wherein the ceramic paste is waterglass. 
     
     
         8 . The component of  claim 4  wherein the ceramic paste is a waterglass slurry. 
     
     
         9 . The component of  claim 4  wherein the filling agent comprises a metal alloy powder to provide surface uniformity between the plurality of filled first cooling holes and the component. 
     
     
         10 . The component of  claim 1 , wherein the filling agent comprises a glass frit, metal alloy powder and a matrix material. 
     
     
         11 . The component of  claim 11 , wherein the matrix material comprises an organic resin, silicone resin or ceramic binder. 
     
     
         12 . The component of  claim 11 , wherein the glass frit comprises silica, borax, soda ash, fluorspar, sodium silica fluoride, clays, electrolytes, or metal oxides.