Microstructural evolution of 7wt.% Y₂O₃-ZrO₂ thermal barrier coatings due to stress relaxation at elevated temperatures and the concomitant changes in thermal conductivity

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of stress and temperature on the microstructure of air plasma-sprayed 7wt.% Y₂O₃-ZrO₂ thermal barrier coatings, and relate microstructural changes to the thermal conductivity, k_th. To simulate TBC service conditions, stand-alone tubes of YSZ were stress relaxed, starting from a compressive stress of 60MPa, at temperatures of 1000°C or 1200°C. The duration of the stress relaxation test was either 5min or 3h. Detailed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Porod's specific surface area (SSA) analysis of small angle neutron scattering (SANS) results were used to determine which void systems, either interlamellar pores or intralamellar cracks, contributed to the observed relaxation of stress in the coatings. SEM investigations revealed closure of intralamellar cracks located perpendicular to the stress direction. For thinner YSZ coatings, SANS measurements indicated a statistically significant reduction in the total SSA and SSA associated with intralamellar cracks after stress relaxation at the times, temperatures, and stress investigated compared to those samples that were exposed to identical times and temperatures, but no stress. The SSA associated with the interlamellar pores was not significantly smaller in YSZ coatings stress relaxed from 60MPa at 1200°C for 3h compared to as-sprayed coatings. The thermal conductivity of the coatings was strongly influenced by stress, with increases in k_th observed after only 5min at 60MPa and 1200°C. Reductions in the total SSA were directly linked to increases in k_th.