GB/T 42261-2022 specifies the thermal cycling test method for thermal barrier coatings on hot-end components such as gas turbines and aero-engines in thermal power plants, primarily used to evaluate the thermal insulation performance and thermal cycling resistance of the coatings. The standard simulates periodic heating and cooling in a temperature gradient environment, combined with measurements of equivalent thermal conductivity, acoustic emission monitoring, and visual inspection, to assess whether the coatings exhibit damage such as spalling or cracking. The test requires instruments such as heating devices, cooling devices, heat flux meters, radiation pyrometers, and acoustic emission measurement devices to precisely control the temperature gradient and cycling process. This standard provides a unified technical basis for the research and development, production quality control, and performance evaluation of thermal barrier coatings, ensuring the reliability of related components in high-temperature service environments.