Estimation of yttrium in yttria stabilized zirconia for thermal barrier coatings by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy

Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) is used in Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBC) which finds application in aircraft turbine engine. Chemical composition of YSZ, especially yttrium content is critical in determining functional properties of the ceramic coatings. Generally quantitative estimation of yttrium in YSZ is accomplished by wet chemical method, viz. gravimetry, which is tedious, time consuming, and laborious. Non-availability of matching standards and poor sensitivity and selectivity restricts the application of AAS and XRF methods for the analysis of Yttrium. ICP methods also subject to interferences from matrix. A new analytical method was developed for the estimation of yttrium in YSZ by Inductively Coupled Plasma- Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) is a well established analytical technique for the chemical composition analysis of alloys and inorganic materials offering better detection limit, wide linear dynamic range, high precision, good accuracy, and fast analysis. In this paper, we are reporting a method for the estimation of Yttrium in YSZ. The effects of acid, potassium, zirconium etc. on the estimation of Y were quantitatively studied. Results were validated with standard addition technique and gravimetric method