Effect of 0.1 at.% zirconium on the cyclic oxidation resistance ofβ-NiAl

Abstract

The effect of 0.1 at.% Zr (0.2 wt.% Zr) on the cyclic oxidation of hipped β-NiAl was studied. Oxidation testing was performed in static air at 1100–1200 °C, using 1-hr exposure cycles for test times up to 3000 hr. The weight change versus time data were modeled with the COSP computer program to analyze and predict cyclic-oxidation behavior. Zr additions significantly change the nature of the scale-spalling process during cooling so that the oxide spalls near the oxide-air interface at a relatively low depth within the scale. Without Zr, the predominantly α-Al₂O₃ scale tends to spall randomly to bare metal at relatively high effective-scale-loss rates, particularly at 1150°C and 1200°C. This leads to higher rates of Al consumption for the Zr-free aluminide and much earlier depletion of Al, leading to eventual breakaway (i.e., failure).