F. Gesmundo

The internal oxidation of two-phase binary alloys under low oxidant pressures

The main features of the internal oxidation in two-phase binary alloys are examined for insignificant and important diffusion of the most-reactive component and are compared with the behavior of corresponding single-phase systems. It is shown that two-phase alloys may have two different types of internal oxidation, one of which is similar to that of the single-phase alloys (classical type), producing a uniform distribution of small oxide particles in the zone of internal oxidation, while another is typical of two-phase systems and involves the in situ conversion of the most-reactive component into its oxide. It is also shown that, under the same values of all the relevant parameters, the classical internal oxidation of two-phase alloys involves faster kinetics and smaller degrees of enrichment of the most-reactive component in the zone of internal oxidation than for single-phase alloys. As a consequence of this, the transition to the external oxidation of the most-reactive component in these systems involves higher overall concentrations of the most-reactive component than in corresponding single-phase alloys.

Possible scaling modes in high-temperature oxidation of two-phase binary alloys. II: Low oxidant pressures

The main possible modes of the high-temperature corrosion of binary two-phase alloys by a single oxidant under gas-phase pressures sufficient to corrode only the most-reactive alloy component are examined to compare their behavior with that of single-phase alloys. In the absence of important diffusion processes of the metal components in the alloy, the scale structures expected are different from those typical of single-phase alloys. Moreover, when diffusion in the alloy becomes important, these systems may develop an outer single-phase layer depleted in the most-reactive component, which may lead to different possible scale structures. The conditions for the transition between the various oxidation modes as well as the effect of the various parameters of kinetic, thermodynamic, and structural nature over the corrosion behavior of two-phase alloys are also examined.

The Possible Scaling Modes in the High-Temperature Oxidation of Two-Phase Binary Alloys. Part I: High Oxidant Pressures

The main possible modes of the high-temperature corrosion of binary twophase alloys by a single oxidant under gas-phase pressures sufficient to corrode both alloy components are examined to highlight the differences in their behavior with respect to single-phase alloys. It is shown that in the absence of important diffusion processes of the metal components in the alloy the expected scale structures are significantly different from those typical of single-phase alloys. The effects due to the existence of different degrees of deviation from equilibrium as a result of kinetics hindrances for the formation of the most stable oxide and in the absence of alloy diffusion are then examined. It is also shown that when diffusion in the alloy becomes important the alloy may develop an outer single-phase layer depleted in the most-reactive component, which may lead to various possible scale structures. The conditions for the transition between the various oxidation modes as well as the effect of the various parameters of kinetics, thermodynamic and structural nature over the corrosion behavior of two-phase alloys are also examined.

The air oxidation of two-phase Cu-Cr alloys at 700-900°C

The oxidation in air of three two phase Cu-Cr alloys with nominal Cr contents of 25, 50, and 75 wt. % was studied at 700–900°C. The alloys corroded nearly parabolically, except at 900°C, when the corrosion rates decreased with time more rapidly than predicted by the parabolic rate law. The corrosion rate decreased for higher Cr contents in the alloy under constant temperature and generally increased with temperature for the same alloy composition. The scales were complex and consisted in most cases of an outermost copper oxide layer free from chromium and an inner layer composed of a matrix of copper oxide or of the double oxide Cu2Cr2O4, often containing particles of chromium metal surrounded by chromia and then by the double oxide. Metallic copper was also frequently mixed with chromia. Cr-rich regions tended to form continuous chromia layers at the base of the scale, especially at the highest temperature. No chromium depletion was observed in the alloy.

The internal oxidation of two-phase binary alloys beneath an external scale of the less-stable oxide

The internal oxidation of two phase binary A-B alloys by a single oxidant at high temperatures, under partial pressures sufficient to also form external scales of the less-stable oxide, is examined by means of quantitative models and compared with the corresponding behavior of single-phase alloys. It is shown that, depending on various factors, particularly on the solubility and diffusivity of the most-reactive component B in the most-noble component A, this process may or may not involve a diffusion process of the alloy components, leading to different scale morphologies. It is also concluded that even when the solubility and diffusivity of B in A are sufficiently high, so that the internal oxidation of the common type occurs, the restriction to the diffusion of B in the alloy due to its limited solubility affects the kinetics of internal oxidation, producing an increase of the rate of internal oxidation and of the critical concentration of B in the alloy required for the transition to the external oxidation of B with respect to single-phase alloys under the same values of all the relevant parameters. The lower the solubility of B in A, the larger these effects.

An improved treatment of the conditions for the exclusive oxidation of the most-reactive component in the corrosion of two-phase alloys

The conditions for the exclusive oxidation of the most-reactive component during the corrosion of binary, two-phase alloys by a single oxidant are reexamined by using a more correct form of the mass balance for this component. Moreover, the previous treatment is extended to include the case in which the transition falls in the range of alloy compositions corresponding to the stability of the single phase rich in the most-reactive component. The limiting conditions for the transition in the single and two-phase fields are examined and discussed.

Further aspects of the oxidation of binary two-phase alloys

The corrosion behavior of binary, two-phase alloys is considered in which the matrix contains mostly the less-noble metal that forms a fast-growing oxide, while the second phase is rich in a component that forms a more stable but slowly-growing oxide. It is assumed that the second phase exists as a dispersion of isolated, rod-like particles. It is further assumed that both phases form external films with no internal oxidation. It is shown that the oxidation behavior of this type of alloy depends on both the oxidation time and the size of the second-phase particles. In particular, for short oxidation times and large second-phase particles the matrix will oxidize faster than the dispersed phase, so that the dispersed particles will be only partly corroded or even incorporated into the matrix-oxide scale as unoxidized islands, forming an irregular alloy-scale interface. On the contrary, for long times and small particle sizes the two phases will tend to oxidize at approximately the same rate, leading to the formation of regular alloy-scale interfaces. The time for the transition between the two corrosion regimes depends not only on the ratio between the rate constants for the growth of the two oxides but also on the size of the dispersed-phase particles, smaller sizes producing shorter transition times. Eventually, under favorable conditions the formation of the fast-growing oxide may even stop, leading to the formation of a protective layer of the most-stable oxide.

The air oxidation of an austenitic Fe-Mn-Cr stainless steel for fusion-reactor applications

AbstractThe oxidation in air of an austenitic Fe-Mn-Cr steel containing 17.8 Mn, 9.5 Cr, 1.0 Ni, 0.27 C, and 0.03 N was studied over the range 700–1000°C. Oxidation of surface-abraded samples at “low” temperatures, 700–750°C, resulted in only Mn2O3 containing dissolved chromium, except at corners, where large nodules containing spinel and manganowustite formed. The Mn2O3 layer grew into the substrate forming a globular-type film. This growth mode was the result of slow interdiffusion in the alloy after the cold-worked surface layer had been recrystallized and/or consumed, as evidenced by the formation of a ferrite layer subjacent to the scale and by the instability of the planar interface. No internal oxidation was observed beneath the Mn2O3 film at either 700 or 750°C. Samples oxidized in the“high-temperature” region, 800–1000°C, exhibited vastly different behavior, forming thick stratified scales at long times (24 hr), the scales consisting of a very thin outer layer of Mn2O3 (with appreciable iron in solution), Fe-Mn spinel beneath the outer layer, and a thick inner layer of manganowustite and a chromium-containing spinel. No chromium was found in the outer two layers. A thin layer of nearly pure Fe2O3 formed between Mn2O3 and the outer spinel.nQuasiparabolic kinetics were observed. The high-temperature rates were about 103 to 104 times greater than at low temperatures at the “transition” temperature. The rapid rates at high temperatures were attributed to manganowustite growth. However, oxidation of an electropolished sample at 750°C, from which the superficial cold-worked layer had been removed, formed scales similar to those observed at high temperatures at comparable rates. A difference by a factor of over 104 existed between the oxidation rate of the electropolished sample and the surface-abraded sample at 750°C. The much slower oxidation rate of the latter is attributed to greatly enchanced manganese diffusion through the high dislocation-density, cold-worked layer. Short-time tests at 800°C revealed an incubation period during which a thin protective layer of Mn2O3 formed. The incubation period corresponded to the recrystallization time of the cold-worked layer. Subsequently, nodular growth occurred which was associated with internal oxidation. The nodules, consisting of spinel and manganowustite, eventually linked up to form a thick, stratified scale. Comparison of the scale structures with calculated phase diagrams of composition versus oxygen activity (at constant temperature), showed that the protective films formed at low temperatures were due to kinetics factors, involving enhanced manganese diffusion through the cold-worked layer, rather than to thermodynamics. A model for the breakdown of protective films is proposed which involves internal oxidation.

The Oxidation of Two-Phase Cu-Cr Alloys Under 10-19 atm O2 at 700-900°C

The oxidation of three Cu-Cr alloys containing25, 50, and 75 wt.% Cr and having a two-phasemicrostructure has been studied at 700-900°C inH2-CO2 mixtures under10-19 atm O2, i.e., below thestability of the copper oxides. At variance with theresults obtained by oxidizing the same materials in air,the alloys corroded quite slowly and formed onlyexternal chromium-oxide scales rather than showinginternal oxidation of chromium. In view of the quitesmall solubility of chromium in copper, lower than thecritical value calculated for the transition from theinternal to the external oxidation of chromium, this result is attributed mainly to a supply ofchromium from the small Cr-rich particles present in thetwo-phase eutectic mixture. The corrosion kineticsfollowed the parabolic rate law to a reasonableapproximation, but the rate constants changed ratherirregularly as functions of temperature and alloycomposition. The scaling rates were generally largerthan those measured for pure chromium under the sameoxygen pressure, but much smaller than those of the same alloysin air. These results are examined with specialreference to the two-phase nature of thealloys.

The air oxidation of two-phase Cu-Ag alloys at 650-750°c

The corrosion of three two phase Cu-Ag alloys containing 25, 50, and 75 wt% Ag has been studied at 650 and 750°C. In all cases the alloys formed external scales of copper oxides. At the same time, an internal precipitation of Cu2O within a silver matrix was also produced, with an oxide volume fraction larger for the alloys richer in Cu. Beneath this mixed layer a region of single-phase solid solution of Cu in silver formed for Cu-50Ag and especially for Cu-75Ag. Silver metal remained in the metal-consumption zone, acting essentially as an inert marker, except for a few particles with were incorporated into the growing scales. Both pure Cu and the alloys corroded parabolically, but the rate constants for the alloys decreased with increased Ag content under constant temperature. The various aspects of the corrosion of these alloys are examined by taking into account the possible effects associated with the presence of two metal phases.