In order to increase the gas turbine inlet temperature, thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) applied on gas turbine components have been investigated and developed for over forty years. Thermal barrier coatings generally exhibit nonuniform microstructures that include voids, unmelted particles and oxide inclusions and may also demonstrate poor bonding adhesion between the TBC and the bond coat which lowers the overall thermal shock resistance of thermal barrier coatings. The performance of thermal barrier coatings is dependent on its: (1) chemistry, (2) microstructure, (3) stress magnitude and interactions, and (4) environmental interactions. In a hot corrosion environment, the absorption of corrosion products into the porous structure tends to cause premature fracture of the thermal barrier coatings. The paper discusses the historical and current understanding of thermal barrier coatings and possible directions to improve performance in marine gas turbine engines.
Keywords: TBC, thermal barrier coatings, ceramic coatings, yttria-stabilized zirconia, scandiastabilized zirconia, YSZ, zirconia, gas turbines, hot corrosion.