In order to improve the hot corrosion resistance of conventional YSZ TBC system, the overlay of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coating was deposited on the TBC by EB-PVD techniques. Hot corrosion tests were carried out on the TBC with and without Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coating in molten salts mixtures (Na{sub 2}SO{sub 4} + 5%V{sub 2}O{sub 5}) at 950 C for 10h. The microstructures of TBC and overlay before and after exposure were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It has been found that TBC will react with V{sub 2}O{sub 5} to form YVO{sub 4}. A substantial amount of M-phase was formed due to the leaching of Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} from YSZ. Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} overlay coating deposited by EB-PVD was dense, continues and adherent to the TBC. As a result, overlay Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coating can prevent the YSZ from the attack by molten salts containing vanadium and arrest the penetration of salts into the YSZ along porous and cracks in the YSZ TBC, although there were some cracks in overlay Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} coating and at the interface between alumina and zirconia formed during hot corrosion tests due to the …