Characterization of isothermally oxidized ZrO2-8wt.%Y2O3 thermal barrier coatings by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was employed to examine ZrO2-8wt.%Y2O3 (yttria stabilized zirconia, YSZ) thermal barrier coating (TBC) as a function of isothermal exposure time at 1121 degrees C. Electrochemical impedance response (resistance and capacitance of YSZ and thermally grown oxide (TGO)) of TBC specimens was analyzed with an alternative current equivalent circuit based on the multi-layered micro-constituents of TBC, and the impedance response was correlated with microstructural changes attributed to isothermal oxidation. The resistance of YSZ was observed to increase initially and then decrease with thermal exposure. The initial increase was related to the high temperature sintering of YSZ, and the subsequent decrease was discussed in terms of microcrack initiation and electrolyte penetration. The TGO thickness was linearly correlated to the capacitance of TGO.