The influence of oxidation on mechanical and fracture behaviour of an air plasma-sprayed NiCoCrAlY bondcoat

The influence of isothermal oxidation on room-temperature mechanical and fracture behaviour of an air plasma-sprayed Ni-23Co-17Cr-12Al-0.5Y bondcoat was investigated by the miniaturised disc bending test (MDBT) technique. Disc specimens were extracted from the bondcoat region of both as-received and oxidised thermal barrier coating (1000 °C, 1000 h). Microstructure analysis revealed that the non-oxidised bondcoat consisted mainly of γ-phase (Ni-structure) and β-NiAl. After 500 h of oxidation no NiAl remained in the bondcoat, an effect due to internal as well as external oxidation of Al. The former resulted in the formation of an extensive oxide network and the latter in the formation of an oxide scale between the topcoat and the bondcoat. The crack propagation behaviour of the bondcoat, both in non-oxidised and oxidised condition can be characterised as intergranular with stable growth. The crack propagation resistance is substantial due to the lamellar grain (splat) orientation and the extensive intergranular oxide network, acting as crack deflection and crack branching mechanisms. As an effect of oxidation, crack propagation resistance of the bondcoat increases but the strain to crack initiation decreases.