Abstract: Thermal barrier coatings(TBCs) are currently used in turbine engine components to protect substrate material from being exposed to high temperatures and corrosion, especially in protection of advanced turbine blade. How to simulate high temperature working condition and research of TBC failure mechanisms under high temperature has great significance. A thermal cycle test machine was developed by us through introducing acoustic emission technology. With test machine, test and research of TBC performance under high temperature was in progress. Relation between AE signal characteristic and TBC life prediction was studied initially. It realized dynamic monitoring the crack in real time, and was able to get similar expanding rate curve with theory. It was proved by large amount of data analysis that AE technology was feasible to research of failure causation in thermal barrier coatings.