Advanced crystallographic study of the columnar growth of YZS coatings produced by PS-PVD

In the Plasma Spray-Physical Vapor Deposition (PS-PVD) process, columnar structured coatings are deposited mainly from the vapor phase due to the intensive evaporation of the feedstock powder. This paper highlights the application of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) for the characterization of columnar structured ceramic PS-PVD coatings. The growth processes of PS-PVD coatings could be elucidated, developing from small equiaxed crystals to large columnar crystals. Furthermore, the main effect of the torch swing on coating deposition could be the interruption of crystal growth and thus repeated nucleation. This may have a similar effect as slowly rotating the substrate in Electron Beam-Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD).