Oxidation behavior of three commercial ODS alloys at 1200°C

Abstract

The isothermal-oxidation behavior of three oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloys, viz., MA 956, ODM 751, and PM 2000, has been examined in air at 1200°C for exposure times up to 4800 hr. During exposure all the alloys formed an external scale of alpha alumina (α-Al₂O₃). The growth rate of alumina on MA 956 was significantly faster than that formed on ODM 751 resulting in an oxide layer which was about twice as thick after 4800 hr. The oxide-grain morphology on MA 956 was essentially equiaxed containing irregularly shaped, titanium-rich particles, whereas the oxide formed on ODM 751 was slightly finer, distinctly columnar and contained elongated yttrium-rich particles. Spalling of the oxide layer occurred after approximately 2400 hr on MA 956, whereas only slight spalling occurred on ODM 751 even after the longest exposure time. Experiments revealed that the initial surface roughness of PM 2000 can contribute significantly to spalling by enabling the growth of highly convoluted scale layers which are mechanically unstable under compressive stresses (buckling). Internal porosity is also observed in all three alloys after exposure. The pores were generally spherical with small Ti-, Al-, Y-rich particles distributed over their internal surfaces. The amount of porosity increases to a maximum and then slowly decreases.