Morphology and Size Evolution of Interlamellar Two-Dimensional Pores in Plasma-Sprayed La2Zr2O7 Coatings During Thermal Exposure at 1300 °C

Abstract

La2Zr2O7 (LZO) is widely expected to be one of the promising thermal barrier coating materials for application in high-temperature conditions (1200 °C). However, high-temperature exposure causes sintering which heals interlamellar two-dimensional (2D) pores and intrasplat pores. This sintering effect increases the stiffness and thermal conductivity of thermal barrier coatings, consequently reducing their durability. In this study, to reveal the possible critical opening of 2D pores above which they are free from sintering, LZO coating and splat were deposited by atmospheric plasma spraying and were exposed to 1300 °C for different durations. Thereafter, the evolution of the parameters of residual 2D pores in the coating and the surface morphology of LZO splat were characterized. It was found that there is a critical opening width for 2D pores above which grain bridging does not occur across the gaps. Accordingly, pores with an opening larger than this critical width are free from sintering across the 2D pores despite surface roughening of splats, whereas pores with an opening less than the critical width sinter rapidly at the early stage of thermal exposure through the formation of grain bridges.