Oxidation of ternary Co-Cr-W alloys

Abstract

Oxidation rates in air at 1000–1250°C are reported for a series of Co-Cr-W alloys with 34–40 wt. % Cr and up to 10 wt. % W. Alloys with larger W contents exhibited slower oxidation rates and their parabolic rate constants agreed well with those for binary and ternary, Cr₂O₃ protected, Ni-base and Co-base alloys in the Co-Cr and Ni-Cr-W systems. The resulting scales were characterized by optical and scanning electron metallography, and electron microprobe analysis. The favorable effect of W additions to a Cr₂O₃-forming Co-Cr base alloy was the opposite of that reported for Ni-Cr-W alloys. The resupply of Cr to a Cr-depleted matrix beneath a protective CrO₃ scale is achieved by the dissolution (denuding) of Cr-rich second phases in the Co-Cr-W alloys. Thus, the internal oxidation of Cr beneath the Cr₂O₃ scale is avoided for high W alloys. No catastrophic failure by liquid phase formation was observed for high-W alloys oxidized 20 hr at 1250°C.