Improved Microstructures for Thermal Barrier Coatings Produced by Glancing Angle Deposition

Abstract

AbstractA new approach to deposition of thin films for thermal barrier applications is described. During electron beam evaporation, the extreme shadowing effect that is present at highly oblique incidence is employed to introduce porosity into thin films of zirconia. Using controlled substrate motion a solid capping layer may be applied to these porous films. By depositing layers of porous material and capping in an alternating fashion a new structure is produced which warrants evaluation as an improved thermal barrier coating.