Microstructural Features of EB-PVD Thermal Barrier Coatings Irradiated by High-Intensity Pulsed Ion Beam

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) fabricated by electron-beam physical-vapor deposition (EB-PVD) were irradiated by high-intensity pulsed ion beam (HIPIB) at an ion current density of 100 A/cm2 with a shot number of 1-10. Microstructural features of the irradiated EB-PVD TBCs were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. All the HIPIB-irradiated EB-PVD TBC surfaces present smooth and densified features. The originated intercolumnar channels growing out to the top-coat surface and nanometer-scale gaps inside each single column were sealed after the remelting of TBC surface induced by HIPIB, resulting in formation of a continuous remelted layer about 1-2 μm in thickness. The dense remelted layer can work as a barrier against the heat-flow and corrosive gases, and gives the possibility of improving thermal conductivity and oxidation resistance of the HIPIB irradiated EB-PVD TBC.