Einfluss der Bondcoatzusammensetzung und Herstellungsparameter auf die Lebensdauer von Wärmedämmschichten bei zyklischer Temperaturbelastung

In the present study the influence of the bond coat composition on the lifetime of thermal barrier coatings during thermal cycling was investigated. The knowledge, that the reactive elements (RE), which are essential for the improvement of the oxide scale adhesion, are “lost”, during the bond coat processing, made it necessary to investigate systematically the influence of the different manufacturing stages on the RE distribution. After VPS (vacuum plasma spraying) with a high oxygen partial pressure in the spraying chamber, the reactive elements in the NiCoCrAl-coating were tied up in oxide precipitates, and thus their beneficial effect on the scale adhesion was inhibited. Another important observation is that the RE’s are depleted during the bondcoat vacuum heat-treatment. The degree of Y-depletion depends not only on the Y-reservoir in the coating (Y-content and thickness) but also on the heat-treatment parameters, such as vacuum quality and temperature. A thin, dense alumina oxide scale with a smooth interface between bond coat and TGO doesn’t necessary lead to a lifetime extension of the EB-PVD TBC’s. TBC’s with such oxide morphology typically failed due to crack formation and propagation along the interface between the TGO and the bondcoat. By addition of zirconium it was possible to shift the failure initiation from the interface TGO/bondcoat to the interface TBC/TGO, which can apparently accommodate more thermal strain energy before failure. The shift of the failure location was achieved by a change of the oxide morphology, which mainly relies on adjusting a non-even wavy interface between the TGO and the bond coat and formation of defected oxide layers. In contrast, a defected oxide scale with a high growth rate shortened the life time of APS-TBC’s. Porosity and spinel formation weakened the mechanical integrity of the oxide scale, and facilitated the crack formation and propagation of the already existing cracks. The potential to improve lifetimes of APS-TBC’s should arise from an adjustment of optimal interface roughness between TBC and bond coat, a TBC morphology with defect perpendicular to the crack propagation direction, formation of oxide scales with a low defect density and growth rate, “strong” interface between bond coat and oxide. Additionally the influence of water vapour-containing and reducing, water vapour/hydrogen-atmospheres, as may prevail in power generation systems with CO2 separation, on the oxidation behaviour of MCrAlY alloys was investigated. In water vapour containing atmospheres the hydrogen increases the weight gain by increasing the solubility and diffusivity of oxygen in the alloy. Similar observations were made in strongly reducing atmospheres (e.g. Ar-4%H2-2%H2O). In this case the alumina growth rate was decreased, but the internal oxidation of yttrium due to hydrogen effect was even more pronounced. Another important observation was the tendency of freestanding MCrAlY coatings to blister when exposed in water vapour containing atmospheres with hydrogen additions. It seems that recombination of solute hydrogen at defects in the material interior is responsible for a pressure build-up in the blisters. Suitable measures to prevent hydrogen-induced damage would be a choice of material with low hydrogen solubility, high mechanical strength or application of a coating technology, which introduces fewer defects in the coating. An alternative measure would be a reduction of the yttrium reservoir in the coating because barrier properties of alumina scales against hydrogen are deteriorated by precipitation of yttrium-rich oxide phases in the TGO