Investigating the performance of vertical crack formation in oxidation and thermal shock test of nano YSZ-40%wtAl2O3 coating applied on YSZ by atmospheric plasma spraying process

The purpose of this research is to investigate the performance of vertical cracks along the thickness of YSZ-40%wtAl2O3 coating and to improve the resistance to oxidation and thermal shock of thermal barrier coatings by creating a layer of YSZ-Al2O3 applied on the YSZ by atmospheric plasma spraying. In this research, YSZ-40%wtAl2O3 powder was synthesized using co-precipitation process and then applied on the YSZ by atmospheric plasma spraying process. High temperature oxidation test at 1100 ˚C and thermal shock test at 1000 ˚C were performed. The structural and phase characteristics of the coatings were investigated using optical microscope, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The structural comparison of the samples showed that the use of the YSZ-40%wtAl2O3 eutectic compound due to the decrease in the melting temperature of the compound and the increase in the melting which brings the proper contact between the splats. This coating showed 18.6% increase in oxidation resistance compared to conventional TBC. Also, the findings showed that the decomposition of the un-pyrolysed precursor in the coating structure of YSZ-40%wtAl2O3 leads to the creation of vertical cracks in the coating structure, which as the oxidation time increases, the number of vertical cracks with a certain distance in the coating structure will also increase. Also, the suitability of the vertical cracks created in the YSZ-40%wtAl2O3 coating, in terms of stress tolerance, increases the ability of the coating to release the stresses during thermal cycles and finally leads to increase in the durability of the coating.