Method for producing by evaporation a functionally graded coating with an outer ceramic layer on a metal substrate

A method for producing a graded coating on a substrate, comprising:

• providing a composite ingot comprising a body defining first and second surfaces and at least one insert within the body, the insert having a predetermined position relative to the second surface, the body comprising a first material and the insert comprising a second material different from the first material;
• evaporating the ingot sequentially at a plurality of positions from the first surface toward the second surface to form a vapor having a chemical composition, wherein the vapor chemical composition reflects the ingot position being evaporated;
• and
• depositing at least some of the vapor produced at each position onto the substrate to produce the graded coating, wherein the graded coating has a chemical composition that changes as a function of coating position between the substrate and a coating outermost ceramic portion.