Nano-phenomena during exposure of plasma-sprayed ceria stabilised zirconia coatings to oxygen rich environments

Plasma-sprayed zirconia coatings are widely used for oxidation protection. Up-to-date, microstructural stabilisation of such coatings is mainly achieved with yttrium oxide; however recent scientific attempts indicated that ceria stabilised zirconia coatings could be a very promising alternative. In the present work, a coating of this kind has been deposited onto a Ni-based superalloy with the interference of a NiCrAlY bond coating by plasma spraying. Its oxidation resistance was estimated with thermogravimetric analysis with exposure at 1100 °C in air. The microstructure of the as-sprayed coating was studied with X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy before and after oxidation. From this examination it was deduced that ceria stabilised zirconia (CSZ) coating is rather stable at the temperature under question. However reduction of ceria takes place at larger exposure periods.