Characterization of Complex Thermal Barrier Deposits Pore Microstructures by a Combination of Imaging, Scattering and Intrusion Techniques

This paper reviews some of the tools used to characterize the pore microstructure of thermally sprayed thermal barrier coatings. It describes the capabilities of optical and SEM analysis, intrusion porosimetry, high-flux X-ray and neutron imaging, small-angle scattering, and X-ray microtomography. It explains why it is often necessary to combine multiple techniques and provides examples showing where it has been done and what it can achieve. It also reviews commonly used porosity descriptors.