Microstructural studies of NiAl-based model alloys and commercial coatings after isothermal oxidation

Abstract

Four commercial aluminide diffusion coatings (one Pt-free) and four polycrystalline NiAl model materials, isothermally oxidised in laboratory air at 1050°C for 1 hour, have been investigated. The coatings were deposited on a single crystal Ni-based superalloy, CMSX-4. Two of the model materials are binary alloys containing different Al amounts. The two other have the same Ni/Al ratio as the binary alloys but were alloyed with 4 at% Pt. In order to control the surface roughness, all materials were polished prior to oxidation. Microstructural studies have been conducted using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. To get a deeper insight on the platinum influence on the oxide structure, two commercial coatings (one Pt free and the other modified with Pt) were also investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The results obtained are discussed according to the influence of Al and Pt contents in the materials.