Effect of heat treatment at 900 °C on microstructural and mechanical properties of thermal barrier coatings

► The ceramic top coat (TC) presents good phase stability during treatment at 900 °C. ► The ceramic TC sintered during the treatment at 900 °C. ► The E and H of the TC first increased then decreased during the treatment at 900 °C. ► With increasing E of TC and increasing hTGO, the interfacial load capacity increased.