Oxidation behavior of 2.25Cr-1Mo steel with prior tempering at different temperatures

The oxidation behavior of a normalized 2.25Cr-1Mo steel tempered previously for 10 hr at different temperatures between 873 and 1023 K has been studied up to a maximum duration of 1000 hr in air at 773–973 K. The oxidation resistance of the steel was found to decrease significantly with the temperature of tempering. Tempering of this steel is reported to cause microstructural changes involving precipitation of Cr as carbides and a decrease in the effective (free) Cr contents, that could influence the oxidation resistance of the Cr-containing alloys. Relative compositions across the thickness of the oxide scales, as analyzed by SEM/EDX and SIMS, suggest that a less Cr-rich (and less protective) and thicker scale on the steel formed because previous tempering caused extensive depletion of free Cr.