Gas turbines operation for power generation increased rapidly since 1990 due to the high efficiency in combined cycle, relatively low construction cost and low emission. But the operation and maintenance cost for gas turbine is high because the expensive superalloy hot gas path parts should be repaired and replaced periodically. This study analyzed the initiation and propagation of the crack at the gas turbine blades which are coated with MCrAlY as a bond coat and TBC as a top coat. The sample blades had been serviced at the actual gas turbines for power generation. Total 7 sets of blades were analyzed and they have different EOH(equivalent operation hour). Blades were sectioned and the cracking distribution were measured and analyzed utilizing SEM(scanning electron microscope) and optical microscope. The blades which had 52,000 EOH of operation had cracks at the substrate and the maximum depth was 0.2 ㎜. Most of the cracks initiated at the boundary layer between TBC and bond coat and propagated down to the bond coat. Once bond coat is cracked, the base metal is exposed to the oxidation condition and undergoes notch effect. Under this environment, the crack branched at the interdiffusion layer and propagated to the substrate. Critical cracks affecting the blade life were analyzed as those on suction side and platform.
