Correlation between spraying conditions and microcrack density and their influence on thermal cycling life of thermal barrier coatings

It is generally known that the porosity of thermal barrier coatings is essential to guarantee a sufficiently high strain tolerance of the coating during thermal cycling. However, much less is known about the influence of the specific morphology of porosity, such as microcracks and typically larger pores, on the performance of the coatings. Both features are usually formed during plasma spraying of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). In this investigation, the influence of microcracks on the thermal cycling behavior was studied. The amount of microcracks within YSZ thermal barrier coatings was changed by changing the powder-feeding rate. Only small changes of the total porosity were observed. Mercury porosimetry served as a tool to investigate both the amount of microcracks and pores in the coating. Additionally, microcrack densities were determined from metallographical investigations. A linear dependence between the amount of fine pores determined by Hg porosimetry and the crack density was obtained for one set of coatings. Thermal cycling TBC specimens with different microcrack densities were produced and tested in a gas burner test facility. At high surface temperatures (above 1300 °C), failure occurred in the ceramic close to the surface. Under these conditions, the samples with increased horizontal microcrack densities showed a significant increase of thermal cycling life.     

Study of microstructure and thermal shock behavior of two types of thermal barrier coatings

Gas turbines provide one of the most severe environments challenging material systems nowadays. Only an appropriate coating system can supply protection particularly for turbine blades. This study was made by comparison of properties of two different types of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) in order to improve the surface characteristics of high temperature components. These TBCs consisted of a duplex TBC and a five layered functionally graded TBC. In duplex TBCs, 0.35 mm thick yittria partially stabilized zirconia top coat (YSZ) was deposited by air plasma spraying and ～0.15 mm thick NiCrAlY bond coat was deposited by high velocity oxyfuel spraying. ～0.5 mm thick functionally graded TBC was sprayed by varying the feeding ratio of YSZ/NiCrAlY powders. Both coatings were deposited on IN 738LC alloy as a substrate. Microstructural characterization was performed by SEM and optical microscopy whereas phase analysis and chemical composition changes of the coatings and oxides formed during the tests were studied by XRD and EDX. The performance of the coatings fabricated with the optimum processing conditions was evaluated as a function of intense thermal cycling test at 1100 °C. During thermal shock test, FGM coating failed after 150 and duplex coating failed after 85 cycles. The adhesion strength of the coatings to the substrate was also measured. Finally, it is found that FGM coating has a larger lifetime than the duplex TBC, especially with regard to the adhesion strength of the coatings.     

Mo基体上锆酸镧热障涂层的研究

利用自行研制的La1.4Nd0.6Zr2O7(LNZ)喷涂粉末,采用大气等离子喷涂在Mo基体上制备LNZ热障涂层.测试粉末的各项热物理性能,考核涂层的抗热震性能和高温隔热性能,并与常规氧化钇稳定氧化锆(YSZ)涂层进行比较.结果表明,与YSZ相比,LNZ由于具有热膨胀系数小、导热系数低、烧结速率低等特点而更适合在Mo基体作为热障涂层使用.     

La2Ce2O7/YSZ热障涂层抗热震性能的陶瓷层厚度影响研究

采用实验和数值方法研究了陶瓷层厚度比对La2Ce2O7/YSZ(LC/YSZ)热障涂层热震性能的影响。实验结果表明,随着LC与YSZ厚度比的降低,涂层热震寿命显著提高,涂层失效区域逐渐向试样中心转移,剥离位置逐渐从两陶瓷层界面附近转移到LC内靠近上表面处。数值结果表明,界面边缘处较大的轴向应力与剪切应力易导致较大厚度比涂层边缘处剥落;LC表面中心区域较大的径向拉应力会导致垂直裂纹萌生,并伴随界面偏折,这是较小厚度比涂层自LC内部剥离的原因。     

Evolution of Residual Stresses in PS-PVD Thermal Barrier Coatings on Thermal Cycling

Plasma spray-physical vapor deposition (PS-PVD) is an advanced technique to fabricate quasi-columnar structured thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) with excellent thermal cyclic lifetime. In this study, PS-PVD TBCs were investigated via burner rig test. The residual stresses in both of the topcoat layer and the thermally grown oxide (TGO) scale were measured non-destructively using Raman spectroscopy and Cr³⁺ photoluminescence piezo-spectroscopy, respectively. Evolution of the microstructures and distribution of residual stresses in such kind structured TBCs before and after thermal cycling test were investigated. The accumulated tensile stress in the as-sprayed ceramic topcoat changed to compressive state after 100 cycles and then gradually increased. In addition, the mapping compressive stresses in the TGO measured through the ceramic topcoat surface decreased rapidly and then essentially maintained at a relatively stable state with further testing. Moreover, the pre-heating of the bondcoat could significantly affect the stress distribution in the TGO, in contrast, no obviously influence on the stresses in the YSZ topcoat.     

Thermal fracture of zirconia-mullite composite thermal barrier coatings under thermal shock: An experimental study

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are used in applications that involve high temperatures and severe temperature gradients in order to improve product performance. The understanding of the mechanisms resulting in coating delamination allows the development of materials that can prolong component life. The goal of this study was to demonstrate that single layer mullite-YSZ composites resulted in reduced interface fracture under the application of a thermal shock. This was accomplished by comparing the thermal shock behavior of three coating architectures: monolithic YSZ, monolithic mullite and a mullite-YSZ composite. The coating architectures were chosen to optimize material properties to reduce the driving force for coating failure. It was found that under thermal loads that result in similar surface temperatures, the mullite-YSZ composite developed shorter multiple surface cracks along with shorter horizontal cracks compared to the monolithic YSZ. The composite coating was able to combine advantageous material properties from both the constituent ceramics.     

Effects of Laser Remelting and Oxidation on NiCrAlY/8Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Thermal Barrier Coatings

In this study, three groups of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) samples were remelted by CO₂ laser with different laser energy densities (1, 5 and 10 J/mm²) to seal the surface of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings. Microscopic observations showed that the cracks size and the remelted depth in YSZ coatings increased. A ~ 50-μm-thick dense layer was formed on the surface of YSZ coating in samples with 1 J/mm² energy density. Microindentation tests showed that the Vickers hardness of YSZ coatings increases with the increase in laser energy density. After isothermal oxidation at 1200 °C for 200 h, thinner thermally growth oxides were found in laser remelted YSZ samples under energy density of 1 J/mm² (6.32 ± 0.28 μm). Cyclic oxidation results showed that the weight gain per unit area of low energy density laser remelted TBCs was smaller than that of the high energy density laser remelted and as-sprayed TBCs.     

粘结层表面处理对热障涂层残余应力及热冲击寿命的影响

采用真空电弧离子镀技术在二代单晶高温合金DD32表面制备NiCoCrAlYHf（HY5）金属粘结层,通过振动光饰、吹砂及振动光饰和吹砂3种不同的表面处理方法改变粘结层表面状态,利用电子束物理气相沉积（EB-PVD）技术制备氧化钇部分稳定氧化锆（7~8YSZ）陶瓷层。借助扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、电子探针（EPMA）、光激发荧光压电光谱（PLPS）等分析手段,研究1100 ℃热冲击过程中热障涂层界面结构、成分及残余应力的演变。结果表明:表面处理能够改善粘结层表面形貌,其对TGO层残余应力大小及热冲击寿命存在影响;未处理试样应力水平高于经过表面处理的热障涂层试样,并且随着热冲击次数的增加未处理试样残余应力涨幅更大;经过表面处理后试样热冲击寿命提高,其中经过振动光饰处理的试样提升最为显著;粘结层表面吹砂处理会造成砂粒进入粘结层表层某些部位,TGO层局部过度生长,造成应力集中,从而涂层寿命低于振动光饰处理试样。     

Microstructural and Mechanical Property Evolutions of Plasma-Sprayed YSZ Coating During High-Temperature Exposure: Comparison Study Between 8YSZ and 20YSZ

Plasma-sprayed YSZ coatings, serving as the thermal insulating top coating for thermal barrier coatings, involve thermally activated microstructural evolution, which may change the physical and mechanical properties and thereby influence the thermal barrier performance and service lifetime. In this study, 8YSZ and 20YSZ coatings annealed at 1300 °C were comparatively investigated to understand the effects of phase structure on the sintering behavior. Results show that, compared with the 20YSZ coating consisting of mainly thermodynamically stable cubic phase, the as-sprayed 8YSZ coating presented a multiphase structure mainly composed of thermodynamically metastable tetragonal phase, and significant phase transformation occurred during high-temperature exposure. The lamellar bonding had significantly improved because of the healing of intersplat pores. Fracture toughness, microhardness, and elastic modulus increased with sintering duration. The 8YSZ coating exhibiting the thermodynamically metastable tetragonal phase structure experienced a slower sintering kinetics than the 20YSZ coatings consisting mainly of thermodynamically stable cubic phase.     

激光表面重熔对ZrO_2-8wt%Y_2O_3热障涂层组织与抗热震性能的影响

采用等离子喷涂设备在H13热作模具钢表面制备氧化钇部分稳定的氧化锆(ZrO2-8 wt%Y2O3)热障涂层,并用CO2横流激光器对热障涂层进行表面重熔处理,并采用X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、热震试验等手段研究激光重熔前后热障涂层的微观结构及其抗热震性能的变化。结果表明,重熔前后涂层均由四方结构钇锆氧化物和立方相的氧化锆组成,重熔后涂层结晶度增加,晶粒有长大现象。激光重熔后涂层产生明显分层,表层组织孔隙和裂纹明显减少,裂纹呈网状且沿晶界分布,重熔涂层内部仍保持等离子喷涂典型结构。激光重熔后涂层孔隙率降低了67%,涂层的抗热震性能也显著提高。     

Effect of Bond Coats on Thermal Shock Resistance of Thermal Barrier Coatings Deposited Onto Polymer Matrix Composites Via Air Plasma Spray Process

Thermal barrier coating systems with different bond coats were fabricated on polymer matrix composites via the air plasma spray process. During a thermal shock test at 400 °C, Zn and Al interlayers were helpful in improving the thermal shock resistance of coatings due to the low melting point. The coating system consisted of a soft zinc layer as a bond coat, and YSZ as a top coat exhibited the best thermal shock resistance, attributed to the lower residual stress and lower thermal stress in the Zn interlayer. The failure mechanism of the coating system was mainly ascribable to the residual stress derived from the deposition process, thermal stress, and further damage of the substrate.     

粘结层预处理对PS-PVD沉积7YSZ热障涂层氧化行为的影响

目的提高PS-PVD沉积7YSZ热障涂层的抗高温氧化性能。方法采用等离子喷涂-物理气相沉积(PS-PVD)分别在未预处理和预处理(抛光+预氧化)的粘结层表面制备了柱状结构7YSZ热障涂层,并在大气环境下测试了柱状结构7YSZ热障涂层的950℃静态高温氧化性能。利用扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射仪、能谱仪对高温氧化过程中的陶瓷层/粘结层界面形貌、TGO层结构演变进行表征。结果粘结层的抛光处理能够降低表面几何受力不均匀部位,抑制陶瓷层/TGO/粘结层界面处微裂纹的产生,同时粘结层的预氧化处理形成的薄而连续的TGO层能有效降低TGO的生长速度,抑制陶瓷层-粘结层之间的元素互扩散。柱状结构7YSZ涂层的高温氧化动力学曲线符合Wagner抛物线规律,粘结层未预处理和预处理的7YSZ热障涂层的氧化速率常数分别为0.101×10~(-12) cm~2/s和0.115×10~(-13) cm~2/s。结论粘结层预处理能有效改善等离子物理气相沉积7YSZ热障涂层的抗氧化性能。     

Thermal Failure of Nanostructured Thermal Barrier Coatings with Cold-Sprayed Nanostructured NiCrAlY Bond Coat

Nanostructured thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) were deposited by plasma spraying using agglomerated nanostructured YSZ powder on Inconel 738 substrate with cold-sprayed nanostructured NiCrAlY powder as bond coat. The isothermal oxidation and thermal cycling tests were applied to examine failure modes of plasma-sprayed nanostructured TBCs. For comparison, the TBC consisting of conventional microstructure YSZ and conventional NiCrAlY bond coat was also deposited and subjected to the thermal shock test. The results showed that nanostructured YSZ coating contained two kinds of microstructures; nanosized zirconia particles embedded in the matrix and microcolumnar grain structures of zirconia similar to those of conventional YSZ. Although, after thermal cyclic test, a continuous, uniform thermally grown oxide (TGO) was formed, cracks were observed at the interface between TGO/BC or TGO/YSZ after thermal cyclic test. However, the failure of nanostructured and conventional TBCs mainly occurred through spalling of YSZ. Compared with conventional TBCs, nanostructured TBCs exhibited better thermal shock resistance.     

地面重型燃气轮机及其热障涂层的研究进展与发展趋势

国际公认的重型燃气轮机制造尖端技术之一—热障涂层技术,高温下通常面临CMAS(CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂)腐蚀、氧化、相变与烧结等问题,其抗CMAS腐蚀性等关键性能极大地影响涂层寿命,提高热障涂层的性能刻不容缓。对重型燃气轮机用热障涂层的研究进展与发展趋势进行全面总结与分析。首先介绍国内外重型燃气轮机的现状及发展趋势、热障涂层的系统结构、材料和几种典型的制备工艺,然后针对高温下燃气轮机热障涂层遇到的一些问题,对其隔热性、抗氧化性及抗热震性等关键性能的研究进展进行综述,最后分类详述热障涂层的CMAS腐蚀机理及其防护研究进展。综述热障涂层的几种关键性能,提出热障涂层的性能与其材料、结构及制备工艺密切相关,据此总结归纳提高热障涂层性能的方法,为热障涂层性能的提高提供参考依据,以弥补燃气轮机热障涂层领域目前缺乏这类综述文章的不足。     

Thermal shock testing of burner cans coated with a thick thermal barrier coating

Thick (1.8 mm) thermal barrier coatings were air-plasma-sprayed onto two different substrate geometries, including small circular substrates and burner cans. Two different top-coating spray parameters were used, where the settings of the substrate temperature and the lamella thickness were varied. A segmentation crack network was found in the top coatings sprayed using a high substrate temperature and a high lamella thickness. The density of segmentation cracks was found to be independent of substrate geometry. No segmentation cracks were found in the top-coatings when a low substrate temperature and a low lamella thickness were used. In the segmented burner can, after 1000 thermal shock cycles, the segmentation crack network was still stable and no severe cracks had formed in the top coating. In the nonsegmented burner can, cracks were formed after only 35 thermal shock cycles. Among the crack types, horizontally oriented cracks were found in the top coating close to, and sometimes reaching, the bond coating. Cracks of this type are not tolerated in thermal barrier coatings because they can cause failure of the coating. Regarding the lifetime of the segmented burner can, it is believed the failure will be dependent on other mechanisms, such as bond-coating oxidation or top-coating decomposition.     

Impact of Impurity Content on the Sintering Resistance and Phase Stability of Dysprosia- and Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Thermal Barrier Coatings

Dysprosia-stabilized zirconia (DySZ) is a promising candidate to replace yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) as a thermal barrier coating due to its lower inherent thermal conductivity. It is also suggested in studies that DySZ may show greater stability to high temperature phase changes compared to YSZ, possibly allowing for coatings with extended lifetimes. Separately, the impurity content of YSZ powders has been proven to influence high-temperature sintering behavior. By lowering the impurity oxides within the spray powder, a coating more resistant to sintering can be produced. This study presents both high purity and standard purity dysprosia and YSZ coatings and their performance after a long heat treatment. Coatings were produced using powder with the same morphology and grain size; only the dopant and impurity content were varied. Samples have been heat treated for exposure times up to 400 h at a temperature of 1150 °C. Samples were measured for thermal conductivity to plot the evolution of coating thermal properties with respect to exposure time. Thermal conductivity has been compared to microstructure analysis and porosity measurement to track structural changes. Phase analysis utilizing x-ray diffraction was used to determine differences in phase degradation of the coatings after heat treatment.     

Detection of a marker layer in a 7YSZ thermal barrier coating by femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

A new technique for detection of thickness loss in thermal barrier coatings caused by erosion or foreign/domestic object damage has been demonstrated for a 7YSZ thermal barrier coating. The thickness loss was assessed via femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (fs-LIBS) inspection for a marker layer of gadolinium zirconate, embedded at a critical depth within the 7YSZ coating. Spectroscopic detection of the marker layer was possible at fluence levels as low as 18 J cm^− 2, which is about 11 times the ablation threshold fluence for 7YSZ. The surface damage caused by the laser pulses was minimal and consisted of extremely small individual circular craters with approximate diameter of 30 μm. Further, the laser action also did not cause any cracking in the 7YSZ layer. The minimal collateral damage associated with fs-laser pulses is one of the major advantages of fs-LIBS for spectroscopic characterization of thermal barrier coatings.     

Novel thermal barrier coatings based on La2Ce2O7/8YSZ double-ceramic-layer systems deposited by electron beam physical vapor deposition

Novel thermal barrier coatings based on La₂Ce₂O₇/8YSZ double-ceramic-layer (DCL) systems, which were deposited by electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD), were found to have a longer lifetime compared to the single layer La₂Ce₂O₇ (LC) system, and even much longer than that of the single layer 8YSZ system under burner rig test. The DCL coating structure design can effectively alleviate the thermal expansion mismatch between LC coating and bond coat, as well as avoid the chemical reaction between LC and Al₂O₃ in thermally grown oxide (TGO), which occurs above 1000 °C as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The failure mechanism of LC/8YSZ DCL coating is mainly due to the sintering of LC coating surface after long-term thermal cycling.     

Experimental and numerical life prediction of thermally cycled thermal barrier coatings

This article addresses the predominant degradation modes and life prediction of a plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coating (TBC). The studied TBC system consists of an air-plasma-sprayed bond coat and an air-plasma-sprayed, yttria partially stabilized zirconia top layer on a conventional Hastelloy X substrate. Thermal shock tests of as-sprayed TBC and pre-oxidized TBC specimens were conducted under different burner flame conditions at Volvo Aero Corporation (Trollhättan, Sweden). Finite element models were used to simulate the thermal shock tests. Transient temperature distributions and thermal mismatch stresses in different layers of the coatings during thermal cycling were calculated. The roughness of the interface between the ceramic top coat and the bond coat was modeled through an ideally sinusoidal wavy surface. Bond coat oxidation was simulated through adding an aluminum oxide layer between the ceramic top coat and the bond coat. The calculated stresses indicated that interfacial delamination cracks, initiated in the ceramic top coat at the peak of the asperity of the interface, together with surface cracking, are the main reasons for coating failure. A phenomenological life prediction model for the coating was proposed. This model is accurate within a factor of 3.     

SiC/SiC–YAG–YSZ oxidation protective coatings for carbon/carbon composites

SiC/SiC–YAG–YSZ coatings were prepared by pack cementation, chemical vapor deposition and slurry painting on carbon/carbon (C/C) composites. The microstructures and oxidation behavior of coatings were investigated. The results show that the coatings displayed good oxidation and thermal shock resistance due to a dense glassy layer with silicates formed on the coating of SiC–YAG–YSZ. The weight gain rate of coated C/C composites was 1.77% after oxidation for 150 h at 1773 K. SiC in outer coating can promote the formation of oxygen diffusion barrier and lead to the optimum oxidation resistance for the coatings, compared with YSZ and YAG.