US Patent 7736760 Ceramic abradable material with alumina dopant

A ceramic abradable material is provided for use for clearance control between turbine blade tips and the shroud or casing in gas turbine engines for industrial and/or aerospace applications. The ceramic abradable material includes an yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) that is doped in alumina (Al2O3). The ceramic abradable in accordance with the invention is a soft abradable material that provides for increased erosion resistance as well as the ability of the turbine blade tips to cut into the abradable without causing them damage. These properties allow for optimum tolerances within the gas turbine engine which results in superior efficiency and performance.