Papers by Keyword: YSZ

Abstract: Photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) has the same working principle as solar cell which convert solar energy into electricity. PEC consists of photoanode, electrolyte, and counter electrode, where electrolyte plays an important role in determining PEC performance. Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is the most suitable electrolyte used due to its high ionic conductivity and chemically stable. In this study, YSZ was deposited to ZnO Nanorods (NRs) by doctor blade method with thickness variation of 100 μm (PEC10) and 120 μm (PEC12). X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used to distinguish the phase, morphology, and band gap of the formed materials, respectively. Moreover, I-V test was also conducted to evaluate the performance of the fabricated PEC with different YSZ thickness. SEM image confirmed the deposition thickness of YSZ layer on NRs which formed rough and irregular interface due to grain boundary fusion of YSZ and NRs. In addition, there is little difference XRD pattern from PEC10 and PEC12 which shows ZnO and YSZ peaks with peak shifting observed. Meanwhile, slightly difference noticed on band gap value where PEC10 has 3.25 eV and PEC12 has 3.58 eV. Even though, the characteristic of PEC10 and PEC12 is similar, the I-V test shown a significant difference of solar efficiency where PEC10 has higher efficiency of about 0.328% than PEC12. This difference is contributed by smaller grain size which has higher specific surface area and porosity. Based on this study, the thickness of electrolyte layer YSZ doesn’t affect the basic characteristic of PEC but affect the efficiency of PEC significantly.

Abstract: Plasma Spray Physical Vapour Deposition (PS-PVD) is one of the promising methods considered as an alternative to Electron Beam Physical Vapour Deposition (EB-PVD) process used for production of ceramic columnar layer for turbine blades protection against high temperature. The PS-PVD method enables to control the coating structure. In presented article the dense to columnar structure was formed during single-step PS-PVD process using yttria stabilized zirconia oxide (YSZ). The ceramic coating was deposited using LPPS-Hybrid (Oerlikon-Metco) system at Rzeszow University of Technology. The IN 713 alloy with aluminide coating produced by CVD method was used as a base material. The inner zone of the ceramic coating was characterized by dense structure and the outer was characterized by columnar structure. The influence of power current, gas composition flow, powder feed rate and coating time on thickness of both zones was investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy method. The relationship between process parameters and thermal conductivity was also investigated using Laser Flash Method (LFA). Conducted experimental process showed that using of 1800A power current higher Ar flow (80 NLPM) as well as powder feed rate (30 g/min) enables to obtain dense structure of coating. When higher energy of plasma (power current 2200 A, plasma gasses flow (Ar-35 NLPM, He-60 NLPM) and lower powder feed rate was used the columnar zone was formed. The thickness of obtained coating was in range 140-200 μm. The formation of thick dense layer increased the overall thermal conductivity of coating in comparison with conventional columnar ceramic layer. The combination of thin 20 μm dense-zone with thick (120 μm) columnar zone reduces thermal conductivity of whole coating.

Abstract: Pure niobium substrates were coated using laser cladding method. Pure molybdenum, Yttria Stabilized Zirkonia (YSZ) and corundum (Al₂O₃) powders were used as coating materials. Coatings were deposited on specimens as seperate paths with 3÷10mm width and 40mm of length. Two different laser power 3kW and 4kW were tested during deposition. In order to assess the quality of the Mo-YSZ and Mo-Al₂O₃ coatings, the light microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), chemical analysis (EDS) and Vickers hardness test investigation were performed. The surface roughness and wear volume were also measured. As a result of YSZ-Mo powder cladding on the Nb substrate the composite layers were obtained without cracks and porosity not exceeding 1 μm. In addition, an increase in hardness of about 450 HV0.5 was revealed. As a result of Al₂O₃-Mo powder cladding on the Nb substrate the composite layers with many voids and cracks were obtained for each of the cladding variants.

Abstract: Plasma Spray Physical Vapour Deposition (PS-PVD) method was designed for production of ceramic layer on nickel superalloys. In typical process before deposition the base material is heated by plasma up to 900 °C. In present article the yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was deposited on low melting point materials: 2017A-type aluminium alloy and Cu-ETP copper. The influence of power current, process time and powder feed rate on structure and thickness of obtained coatings was analysed. During first deposition process the overheating of Al-sample was observed and as result the power current was decreased to 1600 A. In the next experimental the approx. 5 mm thick dense coating was formed. During experimental processes of YSZ deposition on copper the thickness of coating increased from approx. 5 to 22 mm. The copper-oxide layer was formed under ceramic layer. The microscopic assessment showed the difficulties in formation of columnar ceramic layer on use base materials. The obtained coating was characterized by dense structure as a result of lower plasma energy during process. The increasing of power current is not possible in the case of overheating of base material.

Abstract: TiAl intermetallics can be considered an alternative for conventional nickel superalloys in the high-temperature application. A TBC (Thermal Barrier Coatings) with ceramic topcoat with columnar structure obtained using EB-PVD (electron beam physical vapour deposition) is currently used to protect TiAl intermetallics. This article presents the new concept and technology of TBC for TiAl intermetallic alloys. Bond coats produced using the slurry method were obtained. Si and Al nanopowders (70 nm) were used for water-based slurry preparation with different composition of solid fraction: 100 wt.% of Al, 50 wt.% Al + 50 wt.% Si and pure Si. Samples of TNM-B1 (TiAl-Nb-Mo) TiAl intermetallic alloy were used as a base material. The samples were immersed in slurries and dried. The samples were heat treated in Ar atmosphere at 1000 °C for 4 h. The outer ceramic layer was produced using the new plasma spray physical vapour deposition (PS-PVD) method. The approximately 110 μm thick outer ceramic layers contained yttria-stabilised zirconium oxide. It was characterised by a columnar structure. Differences in phase composition and structures were observed in bond coats. The coatings obtained from Al-contained slurry were approximately 30 μm thick and consisted of two zones: the outer contained the TiAl₃ phase and the inner zone consisted of the TiAl₂ phase. The second bond coat produced from 50 wt.% Al + 50 wt.% Si slurry was characterised by a similar thickness and contained the TiAl₂ phase, as well as titanium silicides. The bond coat formed from pure-Si slurry had a thickness < 10 μm and contained up to 20 at % of Si. This suggests the formation of different types of titanium silicides and Ti-Al phases. The obtained results showed that PS-PVD method can be considered as an alternative to the EB-PVD method, which is currently applied for deposition a columnar structure ceramic layer. On the other hand, the use of nanopowder for slurry production is problematic due to the smaller thickness of the produced coating in comparison with conventional micro-sized slurries.

Abstract: In the article first tests of production of YSZ ceramic coatings using PS-PVD method on graphite were presented. The influence of hydrogen addition on structure and morphology of columns was analyzed. It was shown that width of the columns increased with the increase of hydrogen content in the plasma. The presence of re-solidified oxide vapors between ceramic columns was observed. The obtained results showed the possibility of using of YSZ ceramic layer as a protective layer for metallurgical applications.

Abstract: Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) based composite topcoats were prepared with three advanced ceramic materials as second phase component; CaZrO₃, (La_0.75Nd_0.25)₂Zr₂O₇ and Nd₂Ce₂O₇. The solid particles erosion (SPE) testing of the air plasma sprayed composite topcoats was carried out at room temperature and 900 °C to study the effects of second phase on erosion behavior. The erodent was angular fused alumina of 40-45 mm size. The erosion mechanism was followed in all topcoats with cracking and fracturing of the plasma sprayed splats due to erodent particles impact and impingement, whereas micro-ploughing was observed after 900 °C SPE testing as an additional feature. The hardness and intrinsic properties of second phase component in the composite topcoats played a crucial role in improving the erosion rate (ER) at ambient as well as 900 °C. The Nd₂Ce₂O₇/YSZ topcoat show lower ER due to combatively higher hardness of Nd₂Ce₂O₇ and good interfacial bonding with YSZ. The overall lowering of ER at 900 °C as compared to that of at ambient conditions was ascribed to the anelastic mechanical response of the ceramic topcoats due to thermal cycling involved in the SPE testing at high temperature.

Abstract: The plasma spraying is commonly used in medical application. The Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) method was applied for production of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) on AISI 316L stainless steel surface and also on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy surface. In present article two examples of coatings production were presented. In first experimental the YSZ was plasma sprayed (APS) on 316L stainless steel surface. The coating was deposited using A60 (Thermico) plasma torch. The initial parameters were selected and it was concluded that minimal power current was 500A. The thickness of obtained coating was in range 100-150 micrometers. The X-ray phase analysis showed the presence of tetragonal t-phase of ZrO₂. The lamellar structure of coatings with large porosity was observed. In second experimental the newly developed Plasma Spray Physical Vapor Deposition method (PS-PVD) was used. The YSZ coating was deposited on titanium Grade 5 surface. The conducted research showed the formation of two types of coatings structure. When the power current was lower (2000 A) the dense lamellar-like coatings was obtained. If the power current was increased (up to 2200A) the columnar ceramic coating was observed.

Abstract: Nowadays commonly used thermal barrier coatings (TBC) are based on yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ). Addition of mullite phase into the YSZ coating can improve resulting high temperature properties. The contribution focuses on high temperature cyclic oxidation behaviour of two TBC systems with different top coats (TC) deposited by the means of atmospheric plasma spraying. The initial mullite-YSZ powder mixture consisted of 29 vol. % of mullite and 71 vol. % of YSZ. The conventional TBC system consisted of ~ 150 µm thick NiCoCrAlYHfSi bond coat (BC) and ~ 300 µm thick YSZ top coat. The experimental mullite-YSZ (MYSZ) TBC system consisted of ~ 150 µm thick NiCoCrAlYHfSi bond coat, ~ 100 µm thick YSZ interlayer and ~ 200 µm thick mullite-YSZ top coat. The experimental TBC proved higher lifetime, durability and phase stability and also lower grow rate of thermally grown oxide (TGO) compared to conventional TBC. Lifetime, phase stability and changes in the microstructure of TBCs after the furnace cyclic oxidation test were evaluated by the means of scanning electron microscopy equipped with EDX analyzer and X-ray diffraction techniques. Oxidation kinetics of TGO was calculated based on thickness determined utilizing digital image analysis.

Abstract: This study combines spectroscope diagnostics of the plasma jet under APS and the characterization of sprayed coatings by using nanoparticles yttria partially stabilized zirconia (YSZ) powder. The absolute intensities of ArⅠneutral species spectrum lines were used to estimate the electron excited temperature of the thermal plasma jets by the Boltzmann method. The effects of the detection distances, current intensities and H₂ flow rates on electron temperature were analyzed. The plasma sprayed YSZ coatings were heated to 1200°C for 6 min under the atmosphere, and then the micro-structure of the nanostructured powder and coatings were analyzed by using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope. The results showed that the increase of input power and H₂ content considerably increased the electron temperature, while the electron temperature decreased a lot with the increase of the detection distance. The coatings were consisted of the equiaxed grains and a small-size grain shape pores.