Protective layer

An article which is protected to retain strength and corrosion resistance when used in contact with hot gases at temperatures of up to 1600.degree. C., said protected article including a metallic substrate on which there is directly deposited a first protective coating or layer having a thickness within the range of 2 to 25 microns thickness and consisting essentially of (1) one or more of the platinum group metals or (2) one or more of the platinum group metals and at least one refractory oxide forming element, protecting the surface of the metallic substrate and on which first coating or layer there is directly deposited a second coating or layer comprising a thermal barrier layer having a thickness between 250 and 500 microns, the thermal barrier layer being bonded to the metal substrate by means of said first coating or layer, the substrate being selected from the group consisting of nickel-, cobalt- and iron-based superalloys and the thermal barrier layer comprising stabilised zirconia, the first coating or layer being characterized by its thermal expansion compatibility with the stabilised zirconia and its low rate of oxygen permeation.