[en] Different compositions of materials based on Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ and protective coatings sprayed from them working in the high temperature region are studied. There are especially thermal barrier coatings of increasing resistance to thermal shocks and conditions of corrosion and erosion caused by the hot gases and liquids. Such conditions are encountered in many technical branches among others in jet and Diesel engines. These coatings are deposited by the plasma spraying process and their resistance to thermal shocks is studied on special experimental arrangement in the conditions near to coatings applications. Both above processes are characterized by a short time temperature action with subsequent high cooling rate, which may cause phase transitions other than in the conditions of thermodynamical equilibrium. These transitions are studied by X-ray diffraction analysis methods. The microstructure changes accompanied to phase transitions are determined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy methods. The cases of coating degradation caused by thermal shocks have been observed. The highest resistance to thermal fatigue conditions (up to thermal shocks) show coatings based on Al₂O₃ containing aluminium titanate and coatings based on ZrO₂ stabilised by 7-8% of Y₂O₃. (author)