Characterization of Yb2Si2O7–Yb2SiO5 composite environmental barrier coatings resultant from in situ plasma spray processing

Plasma spraying of multicomponent materials produces shifts in coating composition associated with differential vaporization of constituent elements within the strong thermal gradients of the process. This effect is quite noticeable in rare-earth silicates which are now widely being employed as Environmental Barrier Coatings (EBCs) for SiC based ceramic components of turbine engines. Of particular interest is the preferential volatilization of SiO2 during thermal plasma spraying Yb2Si2O7 (ytterbium disilicate) coatings which leads to the deviation from stoichiometry of the desired disilicate composition resulting in a mixed phase coating consisting of Yb2Si2O7 plus Yb2SiO5 (ytterbium monosilicate). Recent work has shown that presence of monosilicate can be beneficial as its evolution from amorphous, metastable to stable crystalline phase can lead to crack healing during high temperature exposure, however, careful control of the chemistry and architecture may be needed. In this work a 50/50 mol% Yb2Si2O7–Yb2SiO5 composite coating has been targeted through in situ decomposition during plasma spray from stoichiometric Yb2Si2O7 powder. The as sprayed amorphous coating reverts to crystalline upon thermal treatment passing through a metastable state identified by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The transition to the final stable phases results in a mixed phase coating comprising of 46/54 mol% Yb2Si2O7–Yb2SiO5 composite that is thermo-mechanically stable with the underlying bond coated silicon coated SiC substrate.