Hertzian and nanoindentations on EBPVD-coated gadolinium zirconate thermal barrier materials

Abstract

New gadolinium-yttrium zirconate thermal barrier coating(TBC) material is deposited by electron beam PVD method, as an alternative to YSZ TBC layer for gas turbine blade applications. XRD analysis reveals that the new TBC material consists of thermally stable pyrochlore structure. Hertzian and nanoindentation evaluations reveal that gadolinium zirconate materials show superior properties as a TBC candidate material with high mechanical properties. The Y 2O3 doping improved hardness and elastic modulus of TBC layers. The indentation stress-strain curves by Hertzian indentation and the load-penetration depth curves by nanoindentation indicate that the new TBC layer has higher damage resistance combined with superior thermal insulation properties rather than commercial YSZ coatings.