Oxygen tracer study of the high-temperature oxidation of pure and impure cobalt

Abstract

Oxygen tracer experiments were used to examine the role of oxygen movement in the development of CoO scales at 1273 K and 1373 K. Samples were oxidized in various sequences of¹⁶O₂ and¹⁸O₂, and the resulting isotope distributions imaged in polished sections of scales using a Camec a SIMS. Scales that were simple (i.e., plane parallel and composed of large, pore-free columnar grains) grew without a significant contribution by movement of oxygen. However, oxygen circulation within the scale was essential to the growth of duplex scales that developed after extended periods of oxidation. The relatively coarsegrained inner oxide on the purer Co grew without macroscopic separation of the scale from the metal. The oxygen for this inner scale came from the development of large pores in the columnar part of the scale. The fine-grained inner oxide on the impure Co had a crudely layered structure due to repeated sequences of scale separation followed by growth of porous oxide on the metal back to the main scale. The oxygen for these inner layers came in part from the development of large pores, but also from a more general dissociation of the base of the columnar scale. Scale failures, which occurred primarily at corners of specimens, did allow penetration of oxygen from the atmosphere to the inner scale. However, these failures sealed and were not essential for continued scale growth.