Pitt HomeFind PeopleContact Us
School of Engineering

People Frederick S. Pettit

Emeritus Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Harry S. Tack Chair

Email:
Phone: 412-624-9730
Fax: 412-624-8069
Office: BENDM 844

Education

PhD, Engineering, Yale University, 1962.

Professional Interests

Dr. Pettit's current areas of research are concerned with the degradation of materials at elevated temperatures by oxidation, hot corrosion and erosion, and the use of coatings for protection. Special emphasis is placed upon high performance-high temperature materials such as superalloys, intermetallics, composites and coatings to be used in advanced combustion systems. The experimental approaches involve detailed characterization of materials before and after attack using optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The data are evaluated by performing thermodynamic and kinetic analyses. The research is directed towards applied problems, with emphasis on mechanism development.

Selected Publications

D.A. Helmick, G.H. Meier and F.S. Pettit, "The Development of Protective Borosilicate Layers on a Mo-3Si-1B (wt%) Alloy", Met. & Mat. Trans A, 36A, 3371-3383, 2005.

F.S. Pettit, "Molten Salts", Chapter 9 in Corrosion Tests and Standards, Application and Interpretation, 2nd edition, Robert Baboian, editor, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA ,January 2005.

K. Onal, M.C. Maris-Sida, G.H. Meier and F.S. Pettit, "The Effects of Water Vapor on the Oxidation of Nickel-Base Superalloys and Coatings at Temperatures from 700°C to 1100°C", pp. 607-616 in Superalloys 2004, K.A. Green, H. Harada, T.W. Howson, T.M. Pollock, R.C. Reed, J.J. Scherra and S. Walston, editors, TMS, September 19, 2004.

K.A. Kubena, G.H. Meier and F.S. Pettit, "Comparison of Environmental Sulfur Effects on the Oxidation Resistance of Nickel Base Superalloys with Low Sulfur Contents and with a Reactive Element", in Proc. John Stringer Symp. on High Temperature Corrosion, P.F. Tortorelli, I.G. Wright and P.Y. Hou, eds, ASM International, pp. 157-163, 2003.

N.M. Yanar, F.S. Pettit and G.H. Meier, "Effects of Bond Coat Processing on the Durability of Thermal Barrier Coatings", Mat. Sci. Forum, 426-432, 2453, 2003.

K. Onal, M.C. Maris-Sida, G.H. Meier and F.S. Pettit, "Water Vapor Effects on the Cyclic Oxidation Resistance of Alumina Forming Alloys", Mats at High Temperatures, 20, 327, 2003.

J.R. Blachere, E. Schumann, G.H. Meier and F.S. Pettit, "Textures of Alumina Scales on FeCrAl Alloys", Scripta Mater., 49, 909, 2003.

N.M. Yanar, G. Kim, S. Hamano, F.S. Pettit and G.H. Meier, "Microstructural Characterization of the Failures of Thermal Barrier Coatings on Ni-base Superalloys", Mats at High Temperature, 20, 495, 2003.

M.C. Maris-Sida, G.H. Meier and F.S. Pettit, "Some Water Vapor Effects During the Oxidation of Alloys That are alpha-Al2O3 Formers", Met. Trans A, 34A, 2609, 2003.

N. M. Yanar, G. H. Meier and F. S. Pettit, "The Influence of Platinum on the Failure of EB PVD YSZ TBCs on Ni Co Cr Al Y Bond Coats", Scripta Materialia, 46, 325 (2002).

G. M. Kim, N. M. Yanar, E. N. Hewitt, F. S. Pettit and G. H. Meier, "The Effect of the Type of Thermal Exposure on the Durability of Thermal Barrier Coatings", Scripta Materialia, 46, 489 (2002).

M. J. Stigere, R. Handoko, J. L. Beuth, G. H. Meier and F. S. Pettit, "Accelerated Durability Testing of Coatings for Gas Turbines", in Elevated Temperature Coatings, Science and Technology IV, N.B. Dahotia, J. M. Hampikian and J. E. Morral, eds. TMS, Warrendale, PA, p. 1, (2001).

A. G. Evans, D. R. Mumm, J. W. Hutchinson, G. H. Meier and F. S. Pettit, "Mechanisms Controlling the Durability of Thermal Barrier Coatings", Progress in Materials Science, 46, 505 (2001).

R. A. Handoko, J. L. Beuth, G. H. Meier, F. S. Pettit and M. J. Stigere, "Mechanism for Interfacial Toughness Loss in Thermal Barrier Coating Systems", Engineering Materials, 97, 165 (2001).

F. S. Pettit, G. H. Meier and J. R. Blachere, "Environmental Effects in Oxide Ceramics", Chapter 11, in Environmental Effects on Engineering Materials, R. H. Jones, editor, Mareal-Dekker, Inc. New York, NY (2001).

N. M. Yanar, M. J. Stigere, M. Maris-Sida, F. S. Pettit and G. H. Meier, "The Effects of High Temperature Exposure on the Durability of Thermal Barrier Coatings", Engineering Materials, 197, 145 (2001).

E. Schumann, C. Sariogla, J. R. Blachere, G. H. Meier and F. S. Pettit, "High Temperature Stress Measurements During Oxidation of Ni Al", Oxid. Metals, 53, 59 (2000).

N. M. Yanar, M. J. Stiger, G. H. Meier and F. S. Pettit, "Processing Effects on Failure of EBPVD TBCs on McrAlY and Platinum Aluminide Bond Coats", Superalloys 2000, T. M. Pollock, R. D. Kessinger, R. R. Bouman, K. A. Green, M. McLean, S. L. Olson and J. J. Schevia, eds. TMS, Warrendale, PA (2000).

C. Sarigolu, M. J. Stiger, J. R. Blachere, R. Janakeruaman, E. Schumann, A. Ashary, F. S. Pettit and G. H. Meier, "The Adhesion of Alumnia Films to Metallic Alloys and Coatings", Materials and Corrosion, 51, (2000).

Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Pettit joined the department in 1979 and served as chairman until 1988. Prior to joining the department Dr. Pettit held a number of positions at Pratt and Whitney over a period of 17 years, culminating as senior staff scientist. Before joining Pratt and Whitney he was a National Science Research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Physical Chemistry.

His teaching involves physical metallurgy, point defects in materials and design of alloys for high temperature applications. Dr. Pettit is a member of ASM International, TMS, the Electrochemical Society and the Materials Research Society.

Benedum Hall

Dedicated in 1971, Benedum Hall is home to exploration and discovery.