An impedance spectroscopy study of high-temperature oxidation of thermal barrier coatings

Oxidation of air-plasma-sprayed (APS) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) was carried out in air at 950 °C and was investigated using impedance spectroscopy coupled with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. After oxidation for between 500 and 3000 h, a continuous alumina scale was formed at the bond coat/top coat interface in the TBCs, and was evaluated using impedance spectroscopy. The impedance spectra of the oxidised TBCs showed that there were four relaxation processes, which were attributed to the yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) bulk of the TBCs, the thermally grown alumina scale, the YSZ grain boundary, and the metal electrode effect. Impedance analysis showed that the resistivity of the alumina scale increased with increasing oxidation time, demonstrating the thermally grown oxide (TGO) growth. The resistance of the YSZ grain boundaries also increased after oxidation for 2000 h, suggesting the composition change at grain boundaries after a long-term oxidation.