Abstract: Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are widely used in turbine blades of aeronautics, astronautics and nuclear reactors for the purpose of insulation from hot gas stream and protection of metallic substrate. However, the gas-turbine engines are under the threat of premature TBCs failures, such as fracture and spallation during service. The experimental measurement methods of mechanical properties of TBCs have become the major tasks. The research progresses of TBCs are reviewed, including the origins of misfit stresses leading to TBCs failure, the experimental measurement methods and systems on mechanical properties of TBCs, the thermography technique for the non-destructive detecting of interfacial spallation of TBCs, the life prediction of TBCs and the shortages in the current researches as well as future development of TBCs.