Cracking mechanism of CMAS-corroded thermal barrier coatings based on a coupled thermo-chemo-mechanically phase-field fracture model

A thermo-chemo-mechanically coupled theoretical framework is proposed to describe the calcium-magnesium-alumina-silicate (CMAS) corrosion process during the cooling process. A phase-field fracture model is developed to investigate the effect of cooling temperature and CMAS concentration on the degree of corrosion reaction, the stress evolution and the crack initiation and propagation. σ₁₁ concentrates in the region beneath the overlay of CMAS and σ₂₂ appears at the interface between top ceramic coating (TC) and bond coating (BC). The higher stress concentration of σ₁₁ and σ₂₂ contribute to the formation of both vertical and transverse cracks. Transverse cracks first emerge at the interface between TC and BC in the edge region, followed by the formation of vertical cracks in the CMAS-coated region. Vertical cracks propagate to the interface and deflect into transverse cracks. The transverse cracks at the interface further propagate and merge, ultimately leading to the coating delamination. The higher initial cooling temperature and CMAS concentration contribute to the accelerated development of vertical cracking and the increase of the quantity and length of transverse and vertical cracks. The model provides a significant advantage in predicting the failure of TBCs during the cooling stage of CMAS corrosion.