Comparative performance of selected bond coats in advanced thermal barrier coating systems

An investigation was carried out to determine the comparative performance of selected bond coats representing the diffusion aluminides and overlays in thermal barrier coating systems. Emphasis was placed upon oxidation behavior, thermal stability, and failure mechanism. Isothermal oxidation tests were carried out at temperatures in the range of 1000 degrees C to 1150 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the coating microstructure. Among the bond coats examined, overlays exhibited the best performance followed by Pt-aluminides and simple alunimides for a given alloy substrate. However, for all types of bond coats, failure of the coating system occurred by decohesion of the oxide scale at the oxide-bond coat interface. All bond coats examined were found to be degraded by oxidation and interdiffusion with the alloy substrate permitting the formation of non-protective oxide scale near the bond coat surface. Platinum as well as active elements such as Hf and Y were identified as key elements in improving the performance of thermal barrier coating systems. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.