Erosion-resistant thermal barrier coating

A method for preparing an article protected by a thermal barrier coating system, comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate having an outer surface;
• placing the substrate on a rotating stage adjacent a deposition source;
• depositing the coating system comprising a ceramic thermal barrier coating upon the substrate surface from the deposition source by
• rotating the substrate at a first rotational speed so that deposition of the ceramic coating from the deposition source continues for a period of time on a particular area of the substrate while the particular area is in a line-of-sight with the deposition source, and so that deposition is interrupted while the particular area is out of the line-of-sight with the deposition source, so that the particular area is cooler when out of the line-of-sight, and,
• simultaneously with the rotating, depositing the ceramic from the deposition source as a first region on the substrate surface, and
• slowing the rotating to a second rotational speed, and, while the rotating is slowed, depositing the ceramic from the deposition source overlying the first region.