Lanthanum zirconate, La2Zr2O7, is one of the most promising candidates for next-generation thermal barrier coating (TBC) applications in high efficient gas turbines due to its low thermal conductivity and chemical stability at high temperature. In this study, bulk specimens and thermal barrier coatings are fabricated via a variety of sintering processes as well as suspension plasma spray in lanthanum zirconates with reduced rare-earth contents. The phase formation, microstructure, and thermo-physical properties of these oxide ceramics and coatings are examined. In particular, lanthanum zirconates with reduced rare-earth contents in a La2Zr2O7-4YSZ composite system exhibit a single phase of fluorite or pyrochlore after fabricated by suspension plasma spray or spark plasma sintering. The potential of lanthanum zirconate ceramics for TBC applications is also discussed.

4 mol% Yttria-stabilized zirconia (4YSZ) coatings with 200 μm thick are fabricated by Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD) for thermal barrier coating (TBC). 150 μm of NiCrAlY based bond coat is prepared by conventional APS (Air Plasma Spray) method on the NiCrCoAl alloy substrate before deposition of top coating. 4 mol% YSZ top coating shows typical tetragonal phase and columnar structure due to vapor phase deposition process. The adhesion strength of coating is measured about 40 MPa. There is no delamination or cracking of coatings after thermal cyclic fatigue and shock test at 850oC.

Lanthanum/gadolinium zirconate coatings are deposited via suspension plasma spray with suspensions fabricated by a planetary mill and compared with hot-pressed samples via solid-state reaction. With increase in processing time of the planetary mill, the mean size and BET surface area change rapidly in the case of lanthanum oxide powder. By using suspensions of planetary-milled mixture between lanthanum or gadolinium oxide and nano zirconia, dense thick coatings with fully-developed pyrochlore phases are obtained. The possibilities of these SPS-prepared coatings for TBC application are also discussed.

With increase in operating temperature of gas turbine for higher efficiency, it is necessary to find new materials of TBC for replacement of YSZ. Among candidate materials for future TBCs, zirconate-based oxides with pyrochlore and fluorite are prevailing ones. In this study, phase structure and thermal conductivities of oxide system are investigated. system are comprised by selecting as A-site ions and as B-site ion in pyrochlore structures. With powder mixture from each oxide, oxides are fabricated via solid-state reaction at . Either pyrochlore or fluorite or mixture of both appears after heat treatment. For the developed phases along compositions, thermal conductivities are examined, with which the potential of compositions for TBC application is also discussed.

As operating temperatures of engines or turbines continually increase for higher efficiency, significant amounts of researches have been focused on finding new materials, which would be alternatives to conventional yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). In this study, phase evolution and thermo-physical properties of pyrochlore systems are investigated for TBC applications. systems are comprised by selecting as A-site ions and as B-site ions in pyrochlore structures. For the developed phases in compositions, thermo-physical properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient are examined. The potential of these compositions for TBC application is also discussed.

Thermal barrier systems have been widely investigated over the past decades, in order to enhance reliability and efficiency of gas turbines at higher temperatures. Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is one of the most leading materials as the thermal barriers due to its low thermal conductivity, thermodynamic stability, and thermal compatibility with metal substrates. In this work, rare-earth oxides with pyrochlore phases for thermal barrier systems were investigated. Pyrochlore phases were successfully formed via solid-state reactions started from rare-earth oxide powders. For the heat-treated samples, thermo-physical properties were examined. These rare-oxide oxides showed thermal expansion of and thermal conductivity of 1.2~2.4 W/mK, which is comparable with the thermal properties of YSZ.