Materials Research Lecture

Thermal and environmental barrier coatings are necessary in aerospace and stationary power generation applications to afford higher operating temperatures and to ensure desired lifetimes of engine components. Often these barriers are multilayered and multiphase to provide optimal thermal expansion match, chemical stability, durability and low diffusivity. They further require chemical inertness in the presence of oxide engine deposits. I will discuss the use of high-energy X-rays to assess internal stresses and phase content and stability in selected multilayer systems and to inform pathways to new ceramic coatings.