Oxidation Behavior of LPPS MCrAlY Coatings at High Temperature: Part I TGO Growth and β Phase Depletion

MCrAlY can be used as bond coats for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) with good ductility and excellent resistance against high temperature oxidation and hot corrosion. The behavior of the thermally grown oxide (TGO) scale formed at the MCrAlY coatings plays a key role on the oxidation resistance. In this paper, the oxidation kinetic curves of a MCrAlY coating at 900~1000 °C were obtained by measuring the thickness of the TGO scales. The curves basically conveyed parabolic laws, indicating a diffusion-controlled mechanism of the TGO growth. The thickness of TGO was positively correlated with the consumption of β phase during the early stage of the oxidation processes. After about the half-life of the β phase consumption, the depletion of the β phase significantly accelerated, which was caused by coating-substrate interdiffusion. In addition, the microstructure of the TGO was analyzed

Study on the Oxidation Behavior of LPPS MCrAlY Coatings at High Temperature: Part II Coating Microstructure Development

MCrAlY can be used as bond coats for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) with good ductility and excellent resistance against high temperature oxidation and hot corrosion. The behavior of the microstructure development in the MCrAlY coatings plays a key role on the oxidation resistance. In this paper, the microstructure in the coatings oxidized at 750~1100 °C was analyzed. The formation of the phases and their fraction were studied by comparing thermodynamic simulation results with the experimental observations. At higher temperatures (>1000 °C) β-to-γ’-to-γ phase transformation took place while at lower temperatures (<1000 °C) β phase would transfer to γ directly. The results show that the simulation can semi-quantitatively predict the microstructure formed in the coating.

Cold Spray MCrAlY Coatings on Single-Crystal Ni-Base Superalloys: A Substrate Perspective

The hot-section components of modern gas turbines (e.g.; turbine blades and vanes) are typically manufactured from Nibase superalloys. To develop the γ/γ' microstructure that imparts superior thermomechanical and creep properties; Nibase superalloys usually require three distinct heat treatments: first a solution heat treatment; followed by primary aging; and finally secondary aging. To achieve oxidation resistance; MCrAlY coatings are applied on the superalloy components as either environmental coatings or bond coats for thermal barrier coatings. In this study; the effects of different processing sequences on MCrAlY coating characteristics and short-term isothermal oxidation performance were investigated. Specifically; cold spray deposition of NiCoCrAlTaY coatings was carried out on single-crystal Ni-base superalloy substrates that underwent various degrees of the full heat treatments prior to being coated. The remaining required heat treatments for the superalloy substrates were then performed on the coated samples after the cold spray deposition. The microstructures of the CMSX-4 substrates and NiCoCrAlTaY coatings were characterized after each heat treatment. Isothermal oxidation performance of the coated samples prepared using different sequences was evaluated at 1100°C for 2 hours. The results suggested a promising procedure of performing only solution heat treatment on the superalloy substrate before coating deposition and then primary aging and secondary aging on the coated samples. This processing sequence could potentially improve the oxidation performance of MCrAlY coatings; as the aging processes can be used to effectively homogenize coating microstructure and promote a thin thermally grown oxide (TGO) scale prior to actual isothermal oxidation.

A comprehensive study on the microstructure evolution and oxidation resistance of conventional and nanocrystalline MCrAlY coatings

Conventional and nanocrystalline MCrAlY coatings were applied by the high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) deposition process. The ball-milling method was used to prepare the nanocrystalline MCrAlY powder feedstock. The microstructure examinations of the conventional and nanocrystalline powders and coatings were performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Williamson–Hall analyzing method was also used for estimation of the crystalline size and lattice strain of the as-milled powders and sprayed coatings. Owing to the investigation of the oxidation behavior, the freestanding coatings were subjected to isothermal and cyclic oxidation testing at 1000 and 1100 °C under static air. The results showed that the conventional as-sprayed MCrAlY coating had a parabolic behavior in the early stage and prolonged oxidation process. On the contrary, in the case of the nanocrystalline MCrAlY coating, the long-term oxidation behavior has deviated from parabolic to sub-parabolic rate law. Moreover, the results also exemplified that the nanocrystalline MCrAlY coating had a greater oxidation resistance following the creation of a continuous and slow-growing Al2O3 scale with a fine-grained structure. The nucleation and growth mechanisms of the oxides formed on the nanocrystalline coating have also been discussed in detail.