Compatible performance of low thermal conductivity and high infrared radiation of Sm2O3-HfO2 series ceramics applied for thermal protection coatings

Sm2O3-HfO2 series ceramics were synthesized at high temperature using the solid-state reaction. The phase stability, thermo-physical and infrared emission properties of Sm2Hf2O7 (SHO) and Sm2Hf2O7-44.83 wt%HfO2 (25S/H) composite ceramics were comparatively investigated. Furthermore, their calcium magnesium alumi-nosilicate (CMAS) corrosion was conducted at 1250 degrees C for different times. The results reveal that both SHO and 25S/H ceramics have excellent phase stability at 1600 degrees C as well as excellent sintering resistance. SHO still ex-hibits slightly lower thermal conductivity and lower hardness and Young's modulus, higher thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) and fracture toughness as well as higher infrared emittance (0.899 at 800 degrees C) than 25S/H composite with the excessive HfO2 inside. Both SHO and 25S/H ceramics react with CMAS to form a relatively compact reaction layer, which can effectively prevent the penetration of CMAS. These results preliminarily indicate that SHO ceramic can be proposed as an alternative material of the traditional YSZ for high-temperature thermal protective applications thanks to its compatible performance of low thermal conductivity and high infrared radiation, etc.