Investigation of interfacial properties of atmospheric plasma sprayed thermal barrier coatings with four-point bending and computed tomography technique

A modified four-point bending test has been employed to investigate the interfacial toughness of atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) after isothermal heat treatments at 1150°C. The delamination of the TBCs occurred mainly within the TBC, several to tens of microns above the interface between the TBC and bond coat. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the TBC was mainly tetragonal in structure with a small amount of the monoclinic phase. The calculated energy release rate increased from ~50J/m−2 for as-sprayed TBCs to ~120J/m−2 for the TBCs exposed at 1150°C for 200h with a loading phase angle about 42°. This may be attributed to the sintering of the TBC. X-ray micro-tomography was used to track in 3D the evolution of the TBC microstructure non-destructively at a single location as a function of thermal exposure time. This revealed how various types of imperfections develop near the interface after exposure. The 3D interface was reconstructed and showed no significant change in the interfacial roughness after thermal exposure. ► Interfacial toughness of APS TBCs was examined with a modified four-point bending. ► Delamination mainly occurred in the TBC just above the TBC/bond coat interface. ► Calculated energy release rate increased from ~50 to ~120J/m−2 after heat treatment. ► Tomography was used to observe microstructural evolution non-destructively. ► 3D interface was reconstructed and interfacial roughness was obtained.