Performance of air plasma spraying parameters in the fabrication of ZrO₂–10%Y2O₃–18% TiO₂ thermal barrier coatings

In this research, ZrO₂–10%Y2O₃–18% TiO₂ thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) were sprayed by employing an air plasma thermal spray (APS) technique following a 23 factorial design experiment in order to obtain the best favorable spraying conditions able to enhance their properties. The effect of the spraying parameters on the porosity, microhardness, microstructure and morphology were determined by using different techniques such as optical microscopy (OP), image analysis, Vickers indentation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique, this latter coupled with X-Ray microanalysis (EDS). It was found that both the arc voltage and the powder feed rate, as well as their interaction had a significant effect on the values of the reported hardness and these results were related to the existing level of porosity in the coatings. It was concluded that the best coatings properties, for the level of the variables studied in this work, could be obtained if the arc voltage is maintained at 36 V, the arc current at 900 A and the powder feed rate to 24 g/min.