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Title:
ALUMINA-RICH ALUMINOSILICATE DIFFUSION BARRIERS FOR MULTILAYER ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER COATINGS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2024/054384
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A method for forming an environmental barrier coating (EBC) system on a surface of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) to be protected and an EBC. The method includes applying an aluminosilicate composition over the surface of the CMC to be protected to form an aluminosilicate layer; and applying a rare-earth disilicate composition onto aluminosilicate layer.

Inventors:
CHEN DIANYING (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2023/031501
Publication Date:
March 14, 2024
Filing Date:
August 30, 2023
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
OERLIKON METCO US INC (US)
International Classes:
C23C28/04; C23C28/00
Foreign References:
US20190092702A12019-03-28
US20160362557A12016-12-15
US20140255680A12014-09-11
US20160108510A12016-04-21
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
MUELLER, Robert W. et al. (US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Att’y Docket No.: P69187 PATENT CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED: 1. A method for forming an environmental barrier coating (EBC) system on a surface of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) to be protected, comprising: applying an aluminosilicate composition over the surface of the CMC to be protected to form an aluminosilicate layer; and applying a rare-earth disilicate composition onto aluminosilicate layer. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CMC comprises a SiC/SiC CMC. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising applying an Si- based bond coat layer directly onto the surface of the CMC to be protected, wherein the aluminosilicate layer is applied directly onto the Si-based bond coat layer. 4. The method according to one of claims 1 – 3, wherein the aluminosilicate composition comprises an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition comprising at least 75 wt% Al2O3, and the aluminosilicate layer comprises an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition comprises Al2O3 in excess of 75 wt%. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition comprises pure Al2O3. {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 9 - Att’y Docket No.: P69187 7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer is formed by one of: thermal spraying deposition, slurry coating processing, chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, when the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer is formed by thermal spraying deposition, an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate feedstock comprises fused/crushed particles, spray dry particles, agglomerated and sintered particles or plasma densified particles. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein a particle size range of the Al2O3- rich aluminosilicate feedstock is 11 µm – 105 µm, and preferably 11 µm – 62 µm. 10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer has a porosity greater than 0% and less than 5% and a thickness ranging from 0.5 µm – 100 µm, preferably between 1 µm – 50 µm, more preferably 5 µm – 20 µm. 11. The method according to one of claims 1 – 10, wherein the rare-earth disilicate composition comprises one of Yb2Si2O7, Er2Si2O7, Lu2Si2O7, or (YbYLuEr)2Si2O7. 12. An environmental barrier coating (EBC) system formed on a surface of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) to be protected according to the method of one of claims 1 – 11. 13. The EBC according to claim 12, wherein the CMC comprises a SiC/SiC CMC. 14. The EBC according to claim 12 or 13, further comprises an Si-based bond coat layer directly on the surface of the CMC to be protected, wherein the aluminosilicate layer is directly on the Si-based bond coat layer. {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 10 - Att’y Docket No.: P69187 15. The EBC according to one of claims 12 – 14, wherein the aluminosilicate layer has an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition comprising at least 75 wt% Al2O3, and the rare-earth disilicate layer comprises at least one of a Yb2Si2O7, Er2Si2O7, Lu2Si2O7, or (YbYLuEr)2Si2O7composition. 16. An environmental barrier coating (EBC) system comprising: an aluminosilicate layer; and a rare-earth disilicate layer formed on the aluminosilicate layer. 17. The EBC according to claim 16, further comprising an Si-based bond coat layer, wherein the aluminosilicate layer is applied directly onto the Si-based bond coat layer. 18. The EBC according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the aluminosilicate layer has an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition comprising at least 75 wt% Al2O3. 19. The EBC according to claim 18, wherein the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition comprises Al2O3 in excess of 75 wt%. 20. The EBC according to claim 18, wherein the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition comprises pure Al2O3. 21. The EBC according to claim 18, wherein the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer has a porosity greater than 0% and less than 5% and a thickness ranging from 0.5 µm – 100 µm, preferably between 1 µm – 50 µm, more preferably 5 µm – 20 µm. 22. The EBC according to one of claims 16 – 21, wherein the rare-earth disilicate layer comprises at least one of a Yb2Si2O7, Er2Si2O7, Lu2Si2O7, or (YbYLuEr)2Si2O7 composition. {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 11 -
Description:
Att’y Docket No.: P69187 ALUMINA-RICH ALUMINOSILICATE DIFFUSION BARRIERS FOR MULTILAYER E NVIRONMENTAL B ARRIER C OATINGS C ROSS -R EFERENCE TO R ELATED A PPLICATION [0001] This International application claims the benefit/priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/405,025 filed September 9, 2022, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] Embodiments are directed to method of forming environmental barrier coatings (EBCs), which are needed to protect SiC based ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components from water vapor attack, and to the structure of such formed EBCs. 2. DISCUSSION OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0003] Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) have been applied onto Si-based CMCs to protect these CMCs from oxidation and water vapor attack. Current EBC systems consist of a silicon bond coat layer applied to a SiC CMCs substrate surface to be protected followed by one or more rare-earth disilicate (e.g., Yb2Si2O7) protective coating layers, as a top coat. It is known that, during the operational life of the CMCs components, oxidants, such as water vapor and oxygen, can diffuse through the EBC layers and oxidize the Si-based bond coat layer, which results in growth of a cristobalite SiO2 thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer. This cristobalite SiO 2 TGO growth is a major contributor for failure of environmental barrier coatings (EBCs). Such EBCs will spall when the thermally grown oxides (TGO) reaches a threshold thickness. Therefore, it is important to slow down the TGO growth rate and improve the EBC coating durability. SUMMARY [0004] Embodiments are directed to a method for forming an environmental barrier coating system (EBC) that includes applying a low oxidation diffusion barrier layer between a rare- earth disilicate layer and a Si-based bond coat to reduce undesired TGO growth rate. The low oxidation diffusion barrier layer specifically includes an Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate composition, which can be, e.g., 75 – 100% Al2O3 weight percent, and preferably 77% - 87% Al 2 O 3 with the balance of SiO 2 . The reason to select Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate has two purposes: {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 1 - Att’y Docket No.: P69187 1) Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate has a low oxidation diffusion coefficient, which can slow down oxidant diffusion; and 2) excess Al2O3, i.e., > 75% Al2O3 in the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate, can react with the cristobalite SiO 2 TGO to form two phases – Al 2 O 3 + mullite phase, which thus changes the TGO chemistries and avoids the cristobalite SiO2 phase transformation during thermal cycling. [0005] To reduce TGO growth rate in an EBC, a low oxidants/oxidation diffusion barrier layer is formed between a rare-earth disilicate layer and an Si-based bond coat layer on a substrate, preferably a surface of a CMC component. The oxidation diffusion barrier layer includes an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition, which has a low oxidant/oxidation diffusion coefficient and can slow down oxidants’ diffusion. Further, as excess Al2O3 may react with the cristobalite SiO2 TGO to form mullite phase, the TGO chemistries can be changed so as to avoid a cristobalite SiO2 phase transformation during thermal cycling. [0006] Water vapor tests of the EBC according to embodiments, which were conducted at 1400°C for 170 hours and 410 hours, have shown that the TGO growth in the multi-layer EBCs, i.e., EBCs with the Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate as intermediate layer, is ~3 times slower than conventional EBCs, i.e., without an Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate intermediate layer. [0007] The Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate coating can be deposited by: Air plasma spray; low pressure plasma spray; high-velocity oxy-fuel spray; suspension thermal spray; slurry coating process; chemical vapor deposition; or physical vapor deposition. Moreover, for a thermal spray, the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate feedstock powder can be: fused/crushed; spray dry; agglomerated and sintered; or plasma densified. The particle size in the Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate feedstock powder can range from 11 µm to 105 µm, preferably between 11 µm and 62 µm. [0008] The Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate coating layer formed in the multilayer EBC according to embodiments has a porosity ranging between > 0% and 5% and a thickness ranging from 0.5 µm to 100 µm, preferably between 1 – 50 µm, more preferably between 5 – 20 µm. [0009] Embodiments are directed to a method for forming an environmental barrier coating (EBC) system on a surface of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) to be protected. The method includes applying an aluminosilicate composition over the surface of the CMC to be {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 2 - Att’y Docket No.: P69187 protected to form an aluminosilicate layer; and applying a rare-earth disilicate composition onto aluminosilicate layer. [0010] In embodiments, the CMC can include a SiC/SiC CMC. [0011] In accordance with other embodiments, the method may further include applying an Si-based bond coat layer directly onto the surface of the CMC to be protected. The aluminosilicate layer is applied directly onto the Si-based bond coat layer. [0012] According to embodiments, the aluminosilicate composition may include an Al2O3- rich aluminosilicate composition comprising at least 75 wt% Al 2 O 3 , and the aluminosilicate layer includes an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer. The Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition may include Al 2 O 3 in excess of 75 wt%. Further, the Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate composition can include pure Al2O3. The Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer can be formed by one of: thermal spraying deposition, slurry coating processing, chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition. Still further, when the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer is formed by thermal spraying deposition, an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate feedstock can include fused/crushed particles, spray dry particles, agglomerated and sintered particles or plasma densified particles. A particle size range of the Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate feedstock may be 11 µm – 105 µm, and preferably 11 µm – 62 µm. The Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate layer may have a porosity greater than 0% and less than 5% and a thickness ranging from 0.5 µm – 100 µm, preferably between 1 µm – 50 µm, more preferably 5 µm – 20 µm. [0013] In accordance with other embodiments, the rare-earth disilicate composition comprises Yb2Si2O7, Er2Si2O7, Lu2Si2O7, or (YbYLuEr)2Si2O7. [0014] Embodiments are directed to an environmental barrier coating (EBC) system formed on a surface of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) to be protected according to the above- described methods. [0015] According to embodiments, the CMC may include a SiC/SiC CMC. [0016] In accordance with other embodiments, the EBC can further include an Si-based bond coat layer directly on the surface of the CMC to be protected. The aluminosilicate layer may be directly on the Si-based bond coat layer. [0017] In still other embodiments, the aluminosilicate layer may have an Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate composition comprising at least 75 wt% Al2O3, and the rare-earth disilicate layer may include a Yb2Si2O7, Er2Si2O7, Lu2Si2O7, or (YbYLuEr)2Si2O7 composition. {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 3 - Att’y Docket No.: P69187 [0018] Embodiments are directed to an environmental barrier coating (EBC) system that includes an aluminosilicate layer; and a rare-earth disilicate layer formed on the aluminosilicate layer. [0019] According to embodiments, the EBC can also include an Si-based bond coat layer, and the aluminosilicate layer can be applied directly onto the Si-based bond coat layer. [0020] In other embodiments, the aluminosilicate layer can have an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition comprising at least 75 wt% Al 2 O 3 . The Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate composition can include Al2O3 in excess of 75 wt%. Further, the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition may include pure Al 2 O 3 . The Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate layer has a porosity greater than 0% and less than 5% and a thickness ranging from 0.5 µm – 100 µm, preferably between 1 µm – 50 µm, more preferably 5 µm – 20 µm. [0021] In accordance with still yet other embodiments, the rare-earth disilicate layer can include a Yb2Si2O7, Er2Si2O7, Lu2Si2O7, or (YbYLuEr)2Si2O7 composition. [0022] Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0023] The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein: [0024] Figs.1A and 1B schematically illustrate multilayered EBCs according to embodiments; [0025] Fig.2 shows a phase diagram of Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 ; [0026] Fig.3 shows diffusion coefficient of oxygen as a function of temperature; [0027] Fig.4A – 4C show SEM images of microstructures of a known EBC (Fig.4A) and EBCs according to embodiments (Figs.4B, 4C); [0028] Figs.5A – 5C show TGO growth behavior in a known EBC (Fig. 5A) and EBCs according to embodiments evaluated 1400°C in 90 vol% H20 – 10 vol.% air for 170 hours (Figs.5B, 5C); and {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 4 - Att’y Docket No.: P69187 [0029] Figs.6A – 6C show TGO growth behavior in a known EBC (Fig 6A) and EBCs according to embodiments evaluated 1400°C in 90 vol% H20 – 10 vol.% air for 410 hours (Figs.6B, 6C). DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0030] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice. [0031] A coating system, in particular, an EBC coating system with Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition layer is deposited onto a surface of a SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component or onto an Si-based bond coat layer in a multilayer EBC system. The Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate coating layer can slow down the oxidants diffusion and significantly reduce the TGO growth rate, while excess Al 2 O 3 in the Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate coating layer can consume and react with the growing SiO2 TGO, therefore changing the TGO growth behavior. The Al 2 O 3 concentration in Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate composition is greater than, e.g., 75 weight percent with the balance of SiO2. [0032] TGO growth significantly depends on the coating materials’ composition, microstructure and architectures. In order to reduce TGO growth rate, a low oxidants/oxidation diffusion barrier layer is applied between a rare-earth disilicate layer and a Si-based bond coat, which can slow down the oxidant diffusion. In embodiments, the oxidation diffusion barrier layer can include an Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate composition. The Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer of the oxidation diffusion barrier layer is advantageous because an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate has a low oxidant diffusion coefficient that can slow down oxidants’ diffusion. Moreover, excess Al2O3 in the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer may react with the cristobalite SiO 2 TGO to form mullite phase, which can change the TGO chemistries and can avoid a cristobalite SiO2 phase transformation during thermal cycling. {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 5 - Att’y Docket No.: P69187 [0033] Figs.1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an EBC coating system 1, 1’ formed on SiC CMC components 2. Fig. 1A a tri-layer EBC coating system includes a rare- earth disilicate layer 3, e.g., Yb 2 Si 2 O 7 , Er 2 Si 2 O 7 , Lu 2 Si 2 O 7 , (YbYLuEr) 2 Si 2 O 7 , etc., formed on an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer 4 and a Si-based bond coat 5, which is applied onto SiC CMC 2. In Fig.1B, a two-layer EBC coating system 1’ includes a rare-earth disilicate layer 3, e.g., Yb 2 Si 2 O 7 , Er 2 Si 2 O 7 , Lu 2 Si 2 O 7 , (YbYLuEr) 2 Si 2 O 7 , etc., formed on an Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate layer 4, which is applied onto SiC CMC (or SiC/SiC CMC) 2 with an Si- based bond coating layer. In some applications, two-layer EBC coating system 1’ can be used without an Si-based bond coating layer so that the alumina rich aluminosilicate can be directly applied to SiC/SiC CMCs to protect CMCs. Moreover, as the SiC surface will be oxidized to form an SiO2 TGO layer, the alumina rich aluminosilicate will slow down this TGO growth rate. Further, as the melting point of silicon is about 1414°C, two-layer EBC coating system 1’ can be advantageous in high temperature environments greater than 1400°C. [0034] The Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate coating layer of EBC coating systems 1, 1’ can be formed via thermal spraying deposition, including air plasma spraying deposition, low pressure plasma spraying deposition, high-velocity oxy-fuel spraying deposition, and suspension thermal spraying deposition, slurry coating processing, chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition. Moreover, when the intermediate coating is applied by one of the thermal spraying deposition processes, the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate feedstock powder can be made via fused/crushed particles, spray dry particles, agglomerated and sintered particles or plasma densified particles. The particle size in the Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate feedstock ranges from 11 µm to 105 µm, and preferably between 11 µm and 62 µm. [0035] The Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate intermediate coating in EBC systems 1, 1’ can have a porosity that is greater than 0% and less than 5% and a thickness ranging from 0.5 µm to 100 µm, preferably between 1 µm – 50 µm, and more preferably between 5 µm – 20 µm. [0036] Fig.2 shows a phase diagram of the Al2O3-SiO2 from Frederic J. Klug et al., “Alumina-Silica Phase Diagram in the Mullite Region,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., Vol.70, No. 10, pp.750-59 (1987). In Fig.2, it can be seen that an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate material, from which the Al 2 O 3 -rich aluminosilicate layer 3 in Figs.1A and 1B is formed, at, e.g., greater than 75 wt% Al2O3, includes excess alumina, as compared to a stoichiometric mullite. This excess Al 2 O 3 has been found to react with and consume the SiO 2 TGO, therefore modifying TGO growth behavior. Moreover, Fig.3, which is from Franck Nozahic et al., “Self-healing {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 6 - Att’y Docket No.: P69187 thermal barrier coating systems fabricated by spark plasma sintering,” Materials & Design, 2018, No.143. pp.204-213 (2018), shows the diffusion coefficient of oxygen as a function of temperature for various compositions, including alumina and mullite. As shown in Fig.3, Al2O3 and mullite have a low diffusion coefficient of oxygen, as compared to other compositions. [0037] Fig.4A shows an SEM image of a microstructure of a known bi-layer EBC system consisting of a rare-earth disilicate layer, such as Yb2Si2O7, Er2Si2O7, Lu2Si2O7, (YbYLuEr)2Si2O7, etc., and a Si-based bond coat layer. Fig.5A shows growth behavior of TGO (~ 6.9 µm) on the Si bond coating layer when the known bi-layer EBC system of Fig. 4A is evaluated in a 90% H20 – 10% air environment at 1400°C for 170 hours. Fig. 6A shows the continued growth behavior of TGO (~ 9.2 µm) on the Si bond coating layer when the known bi-layer EBC system of Fig.4A is evaluated in a 90% H20 – 10% air environment at 1400°C for 410 hours. [0038] In an exemplary embodiment, albeit an extreme example, Fig.4B shows an SEM image of a microstructure of a tri-layer EBC system that includes a rare-earth disilicate layer, such as Yb2Si2O7, Er2Si2O7, Lu2Si2O7, (YbYLuEr)2Si2O7, etc., an Al203-rich aluminosilicate composition layer, i.e., a pure Al2O3 intermediate layer (without SiO2)) and a Si-based bond coat layer. Fig.5B shows growth behavior of TGO (~ 1.7 µm) on the Si bond coating layer when the EBC system of Fig.4B is evaluated in a 90% H20 – 10% air environment at 1400°C for 170 hours. Moreover, as this pure Al 2 O 3 composition has an Al 2 O 3 concentration in Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate composition that is in excess of 75 weight percent (with the balance of SiO2), this excess Al2O3 can consume and react with the grown SiO2 TGO and therefore, change the TGO growth behavior. As shown in Fig. 5B, it can be seen that excess Al 2 O 3 in the intermediate layer, i.e., Al 2 O 3 in excess of 75 wt%, is converted to the mullite phase due to this reaction between Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 . Fig. 6B shows the continued growth behavior of TGO (~ 2.7 µm) on the Si bond coating layer when the EBC system of Fig.4B is evaluated in a 90% H 2 0 – 10% air environment at 1400°C for 410 hours, as well as additional mullite phases can be observed in the Al2O3 intermediate layer in Fig.6B, resulting from a continuing reaction between Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 , where the SiO 2 TGO will diffuse up to the Al2O3 intermediate layer to react with Al2O3. [0039] In another exemplary embodiment, Fig. 4C shows an SEM image of a microstructure of a tri-layer EBC system that includes a rare-earth disilicate layer, such as Yb2Si2O7, Er2Si2O7, Lu2Si2O7, (YbYLuEr)2Si2O7, etc., an Al203-rich aluminosilicate {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 7 - Att’y Docket No.: P69187 composition layer, i.e., alumina-mullite comprised of 77 wt% Al 2 O 3 - 23 wt% SiO 2 , and a Si- based bond coat layer. Fig.5C shows growth behavior of TGO (~ 1.8 µm) on the Si bond coating layer when the EBC system of Fig.4C is evaluated in a 90% H 2 0 – 10% air environment at 1400°C for 170 hours. Fig.6C shows the continued growth behavior of TGO (~ 3.5 µm) on the Si bond coating layer when the EBC system of Fig. 4C is evaluated in a 90% H 2 0 – 10% air environment at 1400°C for 410 hours. [0040] Thus, it is apparent that the exemplary embodiments discussed above in Figs.4B (and Figs.5B and 6B) and 4C (and Figs.5C and 6C) having an Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate intermediate layer is very effective to slow down the TGO growth rate in the EBCs as compared with the EBCs without the Al2O3-rich aluminosilicate layer, as in Figs 4A (and 5A and 6A). [0041] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. {P6918705852352.DOCX} - 8 -