Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microstructural characterization of electron beam-physical vapor deposition thermal barrier coatings through high-resolution computed microtomography

  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), deposited using the electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) process, comprise a unique architecture of porosity capable of bridging the technological gap between insulation/life extension and prime reliance. The TBC microstructures consist of columnar structure, nucleated via vapor condensation, along with a high degree of intercolumnar porosity, thus providing enhanced stress relief on thermomechanical loading and also accommodating misfit stresses resulting from CTE mismatch. In this article, we report the characterization of these coatings using high-resolution synchrotron-based X-ray computed microtomography (XMT) at 1.3-µm resolution. Experiments focused on quantitative characterization/visualization of imperfections in these coatings and on the relative changes in microstructural features upon isothermal annealing. The influence of time/temperature of exposure was investigated and the results were correlated with elastic modulus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R.A. Miller: Surf. Coating Technol., 1987, vol. 30, p. 1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. W.J. Brindley and R.A. Miller: Adv. Mater. Proc., 1989, vol. 8, p. 29.

    Google Scholar 

  3. S.M. Meier and D.K. Gupta: J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 1994, vol. 116, p. 250.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. J.T. DeMasi-Marcin, K.D. Sheffler, and S. Bose: J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 1990, vol. 112, p. 521.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. W. Mannsmann and H.W. Grunling: J. Phys. IV, 1993, vol. 3, p. 903.

    Google Scholar 

  6. R.L. Jones: Metallurgical and Protective Coatings, K.H. Stern, ed., Chapman and Hall, London, 1996, p. 194.

    Google Scholar 

  7. T.E. Strangman: Thin Solid Films, 1985, vol. 127, p. 93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. J.C. Williams: Materials for Advanced Power Engineering, D. Coutsouradis, ed., Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/London, 1994, p. 1831.

    Google Scholar 

  9. J.A. Thornton: Ann. Rev. Mater. Sci., 1977, vol. 7, p. 239.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. B.A. Movchan and A.V. Demchishin: Fiz. Metl. Metalloved., 1969, vol. 28 (4), p. 83.

    Google Scholar 

  11. J.R. Nicholls, K.J. Lawson, A. Johnstone, and D.S. Rickerby: Surf. Coating Technol., 2002, vol. 151, p. 383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. R.A. Miller, R.G. Garlick, and J.L. Smailek: Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull., 1983, vol. 62, p. 1355.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. A. Kulkarni, S. Sampath, A. Goland, B. Dowd, and H. Herman: Scripta Mater., 2000, vol. 43, p. 471.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. A. Kulkarni: State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, unpublished research, 2002.

  15. W.C. Oliver and G.M. Pharr: J. Mater. Res., 1992, vol. 7, p. 1564.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. D. Mancini, F. DeCarlo, Y.S. Chu, and B. Lai: Rev. Sci. Instrum., 2002, vol. 73, p. 1550.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. W.B. Lindquist, S.M. Lee, D.A. Coker, K.W. Jones, and P. Spanne: J. Geophys. Res., 1996, vol. 101 (B4), p. 8297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. W. Oh and W.B. Lindquist: IEEE Trans. Patt. Anal. Mach. Intell., 1999, vol. 21, p. 590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. J.R. Nicholls, K.J. Lawson, A. Johnstone, and D.S. Rickerby: Mater. Sci. Forum, 2001, vol. 369–372, p. 595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, State University of New York, 11794, Stony Brook, NY

    Anand Kulkarni (Postdoctoral Associate) & Herbert Herman (Distinguished Professor)

  2. Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 60439, Argonne, IL

    Francesco DeCarlo (Scientist)

  3. Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation, 32826, Orlando, FL

    Ramesh Subramanian (Group Leader)

Authors
  1. Anand Kulkarni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Herbert Herman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Francesco DeCarlo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ramesh Subramanian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This article is based on a presentation made at the symposium “Characterization and Representation of Material Microstructures in 3-D” held October 8–10, 2002, in Columbus, OH, under the auspices of ASM International’s Phase Transformations committee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kulkarni, A., Herman, H., DeCarlo, F. et al. Microstructural characterization of electron beam-physical vapor deposition thermal barrier coatings through high-resolution computed microtomography. Metall Mater Trans A 35, 1945–1952 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-004-0143-3

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-004-0143-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation