Oxidation Mechanism of Ni—20Cr Foils and Its Relation to the Oxide-Scale Microstructure

The oxidation behavior of Ni—20Cr foils of 100- and 200-m thickness wasstudied in air between 500 and 900°C. Simultaneously, the morphology,microstructure, and composition of the oxide layers were determined byscanning and transmission electron microscopies. Depending on thetemperature, the oxide layer differed significantly. The scale formedat all temperatures was complex, with an outer NiO layer having columnargrains, and an inner layer of equiaxedNiCr₂O₄+NiO+Cr₂O₃ grains. At low temperatures (500 and 600°C),the chromium content was insufficient to form a continuousCr₂O₃ layer, while such a continuous layer formed at theinner interface at oxidation temperatures of 700 to 900°C. At 600°C,internal oxidation of chromium occurred in the substrate. The oxidationmechanism is described taking into account these morphologies and theoxidation kinetics. The observation of no significant differences betweenthe oxidation behavior of thin strips and thick materials is related to thelimited exposure times of the study.