Influence of substrate material on oxidation behavior and cyclic lifetime of EB-PVD TBC systems

EB-PVD NiCoCrAlY/P-YSZ TBCs on several polycrystalline, directionally solidified, and single crystalline (SX) substrate alloys were thermally cycled at 1100°C. TBC spallation does not correlate solely to TGO thickness, but depends also very much on the substrate alloy. The longest lifetimes are achieved on Hf-containing alloys while SX alloys suffer from early TBC spallation. The formation of the thermally grown oxide was investigated in detail by TEM. A mixed layer of alumina and zirconia exists in the as-coated condition. After initial slight thickening, the thickness of this mixed layer remains constant over a long period of time. During thermal exposure, a continuous layer of pure α-alumina forms and grows underneath the mixed zone by oxygen inward diffusion.