Abstract: Disclosed is an improved bond coat of a thermal barrier coating system useful for enhancing adhesion of a ceramic topcoat to a superalloy substrate. The bond coat includes about 13 to 30 weight percent aluminum, between trace and about 3 weight percent of a reactive element selected from the group consisting of yttrium, zirconium, lanthanum, and scandium, and mixtures thereof, and balance selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, iron and mixtures thereof, wherein said bond coat is further characterized by absence of added chromium. A preferred method includes plasma spraying a prealloyed powder of the bond coat composition on the substrate followed by alumina formation and ceramic topcoat deposition. Uses include thermal barrier coating systems on gas turbine engine hot section components such as turbine blade and vane airfoils, combustors, and exhaust nozzles.