Abstract
This study investigates the correlation between thermal barrier coating (TBC) lifetime and thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer thickness. YSZ TBCs were deposited by atmospheric plasma spraying on Ni-base substrates and subjected to burner cycling tests with a thermal gradient and isothermal furnace testing. Both tests revealed that thermal cycling lifetime decreases with increasing TGO thickness, following a power law function, and for a critical TGO thickness of 5-6 μm, the failure mode changes from cracking within the YSZ layer to interface cracking around the TGO. Although either test can be used to evaluate TBC performance, burner cycling tests are better suited for evaluating ceramic topcoats, while furnace cycling test results integrate the effects of bond coat properties, especially oxidation resistance, as well as ceramic topcoat cracking resistance. The two tests can thus be used together to assess the factors that control TBC failure.
