Effect of substrate temperature on the microstructure and properties of thick plasma-sprayed YSZ TBCs

Thick (∼1.2 mm) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) consisting of YSZ were deposited by plasma spraying. Spraying parameters were varied in a controlled manner to produce different microstructures. The effect of substrate temperature on the microstructural features and subsequently on the Young's modulus was investigated. In addition, the residual stresses in the coatings were estimated using a numerical model and they were related to the microstructural features observed. Results showed that crack segmentation density, residual stresses in the coatings and thus coating properties are strongly affected not only by the average substrate temperature during spraying but also the variations between the minimum and maximum substrate temperature.