Journal of Nanomaterials

Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 251921, 11 pages

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/251921

Research Article

The Role of Nanostructured Al₂O₃ Layer in Reduction of Hot Corrosion Products in Normal YSZ Layer

Mohammadreza Daroonparvar, Muhamad Azizi Mat Yajid, M. Y. Noordin, and Mohammad Sakhawat Hussain

Department of Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Received 26 December 2012; Accepted 10 February 2013

Academic Editor: Sheng-Rui Jian

Copyright © 2013 Mohammadreza Daroonparvar et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

YVO₄ crystals and monoclinic ZrO₂ are known as hot corrosion products that can considerably reduce the lifetime of thermal barrier coatings during service. The hot corrosion resistance of two types of air plasma sprayed thermal barrier coating systems was investigated: an Inconel 738/NiCrAlY/YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) and an Inconel 738/NiCrAlY/YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ as an outer layer. Hot corrosion test was accomplished on the outer surface of coatings in molten salts (45% Na₂SO₄ + 55% V₂O₅) at 1000°C for 52 hour. It was found that nanostructured alumina as outer layer of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating had significantly reduced the infiltration of molten salts into the YSZ layer and resulted in lower reaction of fused corrosive salts with YSZ, as the hot corrosion products had been substantially decreased in YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating in comparison with normal YSZ coating after hot corrosion process.

1. Introduction

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are extensively used to protect turbine blades against high temperature oxidation and corrosion. The TBC systems usually consist of an MCrAlY bond coat (M = Ni and/or Co) as an oxidation-resistant layer, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) as a thermally insulating ceramic top coat, and a substrate (Ni-based superalloy) [1–5]. Unfortunately, TBCs fail during service due to oxidation, hot corrosion, and phase transformation which considerably decrease the durability of the coating [4, 6]. Low-quality fuels usually contain impurities such as Na and V which can form Na₂SO₄ and V₂O₅ corrosive salts on the coating of turbine blades [7, 8]. These fused corrosive salts can penetrate into the entire thickness of the YSZ through splat boundaries and other YSZ coating defects such as microcracks and open pores [8]. The penetrated salts can then react with yttria (the stabilizer component of YSZ) and depletion of the stabilizer and phase transformation of tetragonal zirconia to monoclinic zirconia can occur in a very rapid and effective manner during cooling [7, 8]. This phase transformation is also accompanied by 3–5% rapid volume expansion, leading to cracking and spallation of TBCs [9].

It was found that the presence of a dense Al₂O₃ layer over the YSZ coating in atmospheric plasma sprayed TBCs can considerably reduce the molten salts diffusion into the YSZ layer and results in higher TBC resistivity against hot corrosion [7, 8]. It can be said that a layered composite TBC containing alumina component can considerably prevent hot corrosion [7]. It is interesting to note that Al₂O₃ cannot be dissolved within the ZrO₂. The alumina (as a rigid matrix) can only surround the ZrO₂ particles in TBC system. This phenomenon could create local compressive stresses which could prevent the phase transformation of tetragonal zirconia to monoclinic phase [8, 10, 11]. Hence, the main purpose of this research is to improve the hot corrosion resistance of normal TBCs using nanoalumina as a third layer in TBC system. Two types of air plasma sprayed TBC systems were investigated: an Inconel 738/NiCrAlY/normal YSZ, and an Inconel 738/NiCrAlY/normal YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ systems. Investigation also includes microstructural characterization of TBCs before and after hot corrosion test.

2. Experimental Procedures

2.1. As-Received Materials

Nickel-based superalloy (Inconel 738) squares of 25 × 25 × 6 mm were grit blasted with alumina particles and were then used as substrate. Three types of commercial powders were selected: Amdry 962 (Ni-22Cr-10Al-1Y, −106 + 52 μm) as bond coat, Metco 204 NS-G (ZrO₂-8% Y₂O₃, −106 + 11 μm), and Inframat LLC 0802 (nano-α-Al₂O₃ with high purity, 80 nm) as TBC or ceramic layer.

2.2. Granulation of Nano-Al₂O₃ Powders

It is worth mentioning that, during air plasma spraying, nanopowders (particularly nano ceramic powders) could adhere to the walls of the feeding system making it extremely difficult to move them towards the plasma torch due to their high specific area and low mass. In order to overcome this problem, reconstitution of the nanoparticles into micrometer-sized granules, a process known as granulation treatment, is essential. In this regard, researchers found that the most favorable granule size is in the range of 10 μm–110 μm [12–15]. A dense nanoceramic coating can be produced by using granulated nanopowders which have excellent flow ability and high apparent density [15]. Hence, nano-Al₂O₃ powders with an average particle size nominally less than 80 nm and PVA (poly-vinyl alcohol as a binder) were used as starting materials. In this method, 50 g of PVA was dissolved in 80 mL of distilled water at 200°C using a magnetic stirrer. At the same time, the nano-Al₂O₃ particles were dispersed in distilled water by using an ultrasonic machine for 30 min at 60°C. The dispersed nano-Al₂O₃ solution was then added to the PVA solution with the aid of a magnetic stirrer at 250°C for 45 min. The water from the solution was removed using a rotary-evaporator device, in order to prevent phase segregation [13]. These granulated powders were dried using a normal electric furnace at 200°C for 145 min.

Agglomerated powders were then sieved through 150 μm, 100 μm, and 50 μm meshes, in order to obtain an adequate shape and suitable size for plasma spraying. The final particle size of the granulated nano-Al₂O₃ powders used for air plasma spraying was estimated to be 80–100 μm [16].

2.3. Air Plasma Sprayed Coatings for Hot Corrosion Test

Two types of coatings were produced by air plasma spray (APS) method: the normal YSZ and the layer composite of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ as outer layer coatings. Table 1 lists the thickness of coatings, while Table 2 shows the parameters of air plasma spraying method.

Table 1: Thickness of layers (μm) in two types of thermal barrier coating systems.

Type of TBC
NiCrAlY
YSZ*
Granulated nano-Al₂O₃
Abbreviation

Normal

—
YSZ coating

Nanolayer composite

YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating

YSZ: yttria stabilized zirconia.

Table 2: Parameters of air plasma spraying (APS) method.

Parameter
NiCrAlY
YSZ
Granulated nano-Al₂O₃

Current (A)
450
550
500

Voltage (V)
50
70
50

Primary gas, Ar (L/min)
85
38
85

Secondary gas, H₂ (L/min)
15
17
15

Powder feed rate (g/min)
15
35
25

Spray distance (cm)
15
7.5
10

2.4. Hot Corrosion Test

A mixture of 55 wt% V₂O₅ and 45 wt% Na₂SO₄ powders (see Figure 1) was spread on the outer surface of the coatings with 30 mg/cm² concentration. To prevent edge corrosion effect, a 4 mm gap from the uncoated edge was spared for all the coatings. The samples were then put in a normal electric furnace with air atmosphere at 1000°C for 52 hr and then cooled down until ambient temperature was reached inside the furnace. These samples were also intermittently checked every 4 hr cycle during the hot corrosion exposure.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 1: SEM images and EDS analysis of corrosive salts for hot corrosion test. (a) V₂O₅, (b) Na₂SO₄, and (c) a mixture of 55 wt% V₂O₅ and 45 wt% Na₂SO₄ powders.

2.5. Microstructural Characterization of Coatings

The microstructural characterization of the surface and the cross-section of the coatings before and after hot corrosion test were carried out using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). An X-ray diffraction (XRD) device was used to determine the type of corrosive phases formed on the YSZ layer of TBCs after hot corrosion test at 1000°C.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Morphology Investigation of the Granulated Nano-Al₂O₃ Powders

Figure 2(a) exhibits the morphology of nano-Al₂O₃ powders after granulation treatment. It can be observed that (see Figures 2(b) and 2(c)) there are a high number of nano-Al₂O₃ grains in a granulated particle which can be considered as a plasma sprayable powder in APS method.

Figure 2: (a) Morphology of nano-Al₂O₃ powders after granulation, and (b), (c) high numbers of nano-Al₂O₃ grains in a granulated particle which is suitable for plasma spraying process.

3.2. Microstructural Characterization of Air Plasma Sprayed Coatings

Figure 3 demonstrates the cross-sections of two types of as-sprayed TBCs. All the coatings display a lamellar structure which is a characteristic of plasma sprayed coatings [1–5]. Figure 3(a) shows composite of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ as an outer layer on the bond coat after air plasma spraying. On the other hand, Figure 3(b) indicates normal YSZ layer on the NiCrAlY layer indicating that is the normal TBC system.

(a)

(b)

Figure 3: Cross-section of two types of as-sprayed TBCs. (a) Inconel 738/NiCrAlY/normal YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ and (b) Inconel 738/NiCrAlY/normal YSZ.

The morphology of as-sprayed nano-Al₂O₃ layer was characterized using FESEM equipped with EDS as shown in Figure 4. It shows that dense nanostructured Al₂O₃ coating has lower pinholes, voids and microcracks compared to those of normal YSZ coating, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 4: Surface morphology of as-sprayed nano-Al₂O₃ layer at different magnifications.

Figure 5: Surface morphology of as-sprayed normal YSZ layer at different magnifications.

It can be predicted that nano-Al₂O₃ layer over YSZ coating will considerably prevent the infiltration of molten salts into the YSZ layer during hot corrosion test at elevated temperatures (see Figure 4).

3.3. Microstructural Characterization of Coatings after Hot Corrosion

Figures 6 and 7 indicate the morphology of YSZ layer of TBCs after hot corrosion test. The normal YSZ coating surface appears porous and destroyed with many cracks and crystals deposited (as one of the hot corrosion products) on the surface (Figures 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c)). Figure 7 also shows the surface of YSZ as inner layer of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating after hot corrosion test at 1000°C.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 6: Surface morphology of YSZ layer of normal TBC system after hot corrosion test at different magnifications: (a) 100x, (b) 200x, and (c) 400x.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 7: Surface morphology of YSZ layer of nano-TBC system after hot corrosion test at different magnifications: (a) 100x, (b) 200x, and (c) 400x.

The detrimental crystals are rod shaped. In the normal YSZ their sizes are larger (80–85 μm) and thicker (2.5–3 μm) (Figure 6(c)) compared to thinner rod crystals (0.5–1.5 μm) with low number and small size (15–20 μm) in YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating (Figure 7(c)). The EDS analysis (see Figure 8) indicated that the rod crystals are mainly composed of yttrium, vanadium, and oxygen. X-ray diffraction analysis identified these crystals as YVO₄.

(a)

(b)

Figure 8: EDS analysis from rod crystals of YVO₄ on the YSZ layer of TBC systems: (a) large rod crystals of YVO₄ on the YSZ layer of normal TBC system and (b) small rod crystals of YVO₄ on the YSZ layer of nano-TBC system.

The XRD analysis performed on the YSZ layer of the coatings after hot corrosion test produced results of XRD patterns as shown in Figure 9. Formation of monoclinic ZrO₂ and YVO₄ crystals was detected on the surface of all the coatings after exposure to molten salts at 1000°C, but the intensity of their peaks was totally different. Monoclinic zirconia is an unstable phase. This phase will be transformed to tetragonal zirconia phase at approximately 1000°C. This tetragonal phase will transform back to monoclinic zirconia phase during cooling which is accompanied by 3–5% volume expansion and finally leads to the spallation of TBC during subsequent thermal cycles of hot corrosion test [10, 17, 18].

Figure 9: XRD patterns of (a) normal YSZ layer of normal TBC system and (b) YSZ as inner layer of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating after hot corrosion test at 1000°C.

Using (1) [8, 19, 20], the monoclinic zirconia volume fractions (%) in the two types of TBCs after hot corrosion test were calculated:

and are the intensity of monoclinic ZrO₂ () and () peaks, respectively, and is the intensity of tetragonal ZrO₂ () peak in XRD patterns after hot corrosion test. The volume fractions of monoclinic zirconia phase (%) in the two types of TBCs are compared as shown in Figure 10. This figure demonstrates that the volume fraction of monoclinic ZrO₂ has been reduced from 66% in normal YSZ to 15% in YSZ as inner layer of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating. This result indicates that phase transformation of tetragonal zirconia to monoclinic zirconia in YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating during cooling is lower compared to normal YSZ coating.

Figure 10: Volume fraction of monoclinic zirconia in the coatings after hot corrosion test.

The comparison of XRD results (see Figure 9) indicates that the intensity of principal peak of YVO₄ in normal YSZ is considerably higher compared to YSZ as inner layer of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating. This phenomenon can also be confirmed by measuring the length of the YVO₄ rod-shaped crystals. Figure 11 shows that the average length of rod crystals of YVO₄ in YSZ as inner layer of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating has been substantially reduced compared to normal YSZ coating after hot corrosion test at 1000°C.

Figure 11: Length average of rod crystals of YVO₄ in two types of TBCs after hot corrosion test at 1000°C.

3.4. The Mechanism of Monoclinic Zirconia and YVO₄ Crystals Formation as Hot Corrosion Products in the YSZ Layer

The mechanism of monoclinic zirconia and YVO₄ crystals formation as hot corrosion products during corrosion process can be explained by the following reactions:

According to reactions (2)–(4), NaVO₃ was formed at elevated temperatures (see Figure 12). NaVO₃ then reacted with Y₂O₃ to generate monoclinic ZrO₂, YVO₄, and Na₂O (reaction (5)) [21–24]. On the other hand, it has been reported that [21, 22] V₂O₅ can react directly with Y₂O₃ (stabilizer component of zirconia) to produce monoclinic ZrO₂ and YVO₄ crystals as hot corrosion products (reaction (6)).

Figure 12: EDS analysis of NaVO₃ compound on the YSZ layer after hot corrosion test at 1000°C.

Chen et al.’s investigation [11] on hot corrosion of plasma sprayed Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ coatings in molten Na₂SO₄ showed that NaAlO₂ can be formed on the surface of Al₂O₃ particles (reactions (2), (7)). Hot corrosion rate of Al₂O₃ coating in molten Na₂SO₄ was much lower compared to normal ZrO₂ coating. In this research NaAlO₂ was detected by XRD analysis (see Figure 9(b)) and, as such, it can be said that, the Al₂O₃ layer is generally protected by NaAlO₂ compound during hot corrosion process:

Na₂SO₄ is known as an accelerator factor of chemical reactions during hot corrosion [25, 26]. It was found that NaVO₃ with relatively low melting point (630°C) [27] will be able to increase the phase transformation of tetragonal ZrO₂ to monoclinic ZrO₂ during hot corrosion test (reaction (5)) due to the depletion of stabilizer (Y₂O₃) component of the YSZ coating.

3.5. Hot Corrosion Behavior of Two Types of Thermal Barrier Coatings

The hot corrosion behavior of thermal barrier coatings in this research can be explained by the following steps: (a) molten salts penetrate into the YSZ layer; (b) molten salts react with Y₂O₃ (stabilizer component of zirconia); (c) tetragonal zirconia will be transformed to monoclinic zirconia phase; and (d) formation of large rod-shaped YVO₄ crystals with an average length of 85 μm and outward growth (see Figure 13) in normal YSZ coating which can impose additional stresses to the system. The spallation of normal YSZ coating will occur at the NiCrAlY/YSZ interface due to those supplementary stresses in the coating.

Figure 13: Formation of monoclinic ZrO₂ and YVO₄ large crystals which have outward growth in the normal YSZ layer.

In the meantime, premature YSZ spallation is a result of the formation of large monoclinic ZrO₂ and YVO₄ crystals (see Figure 13) at the bond coat/normal YSZ interface, while, in YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating, the least amount of molten salts infiltrated through nanoalumina layer towards the YSZ coating and reacted with YSZ at the interface of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃. It can be said that due to its short length of about 15–20 μm the YVO₄ small crystals did not play a substantial role in the spallation of nano-Al₂O₃ layer from the YSZ. However, the spallation of nano-Al₂O₃ layer is mainly related to the formation of monoclinic ZrO₂ (15%) at the interface of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ during hot corrosion test at 1000°C. It can be concluded that the linked pinholes and microcracks can provide the pathways for molten salts infiltration into the coating during hot corrosion process. However, in this research, the dense nanostructured Al₂O₃ layer could significantly prevent the diffusion of molten salts into YSZ layer due to the compactness of the nanostructure. Therefore the amount of monoclinic ZrO₂ and YVO₄ crystals was substantially lessened in YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating in comparison with normal YSZ coating after hot corrosion test.

4. Conclusions

Reaction of molten salts containing NaVO₃ with Y₂O₃ (as stabilizer component of ZrO₂) led to the formation of monoclinic ZrO₂ and YVO₄ crystals (as hot corrosion products) on the YSZ layer during hot corrosion test. This phenomenon finally led to the separation of YSZ layer from the bond coat after 12 hr. It was found that a dense nano-Al₂O₃ layer with lower pinholes can significantly prevent the infiltration of molten salts into YSZ layer and therefore the amount of monoclinic ZrO₂ and YVO₄ crystals was considerably reduced in YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating in comparison with normal YSZ coating. This phenomenon had caused the separation of nano-Al₂O₃ layer from the YSZ coating after 52 hr. In other words, the nanostructured Al₂O₃ layer could maintain YSZ coating as main component of TBC systems during hot corrosion test due to lower formation of monoclinic ZrO₂ (15%) at the interface of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating. Meanwhile, the average length of YVO₄ rod crystals in YSZ as inner layer of YSZ/nano-Al₂O₃ coating was lower compared to that of normal YSZ coating after hot corrosion test.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) for providing research facilities and financial support under Grant Q.J130000.2524.02H55.

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