Synthesis and oxidation behavior of nanocrystalline MCrAlY bond coatings

Thermal barrier coating systems protect turbine blades against high-temperature corrosion and oxidation. They consist of a metal bond coat (MCrAlY, M = Ni, Co) and a ceramic top layer (ZrO2/Y2O3). In this work, the oxidation behavior of conventional and nanostructured high-velocity oxyfuel (HVOF) NiCrAlY coatings has been compared. Commercially available NiCrAlY powder was mechanically cryomilled and HVOF sprayed on a nickel alloy foil to form a nanocrystalline coating. Freestanding bodies of conventional and nanostructured HVOF NiCrAlY coatings were oxidized at 1000 degrees C for different time periods to form the thermally grown oxide layer. The experiments show an improvement in oxidation resistance in the nanostructured coating when compared with that of the conventional one. The observed behavior is a result of the formation of a continuous Al2O3 layer on the surface of the nanostructured HVOF NiCrAlY coating. This layer protects the coating from further oxidation and avoids the formation of mixed oxide protrusions present in the conventional coating.