Cyclic and isothermal oxidation behavior on some Ni-Cr alloys

Additions of 3 wt.% Mn and 3 wt.% Si were made to Ni-20Cr. These alloys, along with Ni-20Cr and Ni-40Cr were oxidized for 100 1-hr cycles at 1100°C and 50 1-hr cycles at 1200° C. Oxidation behavior was judged by sample weight and thickness change, metallography, x-ray diffraction, and electron microprobe analysis. These tests showed that Ni-40Cr and Ni-20Cr-3Si were about the same and were the most oxidation-resistant alloys. Ni-20Cr-3Mn was not as oxidation resistant, especially at 1200° C. Ni-20Cr was far less oxidation resistant than any of the other alloys. The Ni-40Cr and Ni-20Cr-3Si relied on a protective layer of Cr₂O₃ for their oxidation resistance. A SiO₂ layer was noted beneath the Cr₂O₃ layer on the Ni-20Cr-3Si, but had apparently only a second-order effect. The source of improved protection of the Ni-20Cr-3Mn was apparently the formation of a relatively adherent MnCr₂O₄ layer at the metal-oxide interface.