The oxidation behavior of Ni-Cr-Al-2ThO2 alloys at 1093° and 1204°C

A pack diffusion process has been developed which permits the introduction of nearly 6 wt pct Al into solid solution in the near surface region of TDNiCr (Ni-20 wt pct Cr-2 vol pct ThO₂) and Ni-20Cr. Alumina scales, adherent under cyclic heating and cooling conditions, were produced on TDNiCr-5.86A1 upon exposure to an environment of 1.33 × 10³N/m² (10 torr) or 1.01 × 10⁵N/m² (760 torr) air at temperatures of 1093° and 1204°C. While the same oxidation kinetics were observed in isothermal tests for Ni-14.6Cr-5.86Al as were obtained for the TDNiCr-5.86A1, the dispersion strengthened alloy exhibited superior oxide scale adhesion during cyclic testing. At 1204°C continuous weight gains were observed under all test conditions for TDNiCr-5.86A1, in contrast to the weight loss with time which occurred several hours after exposure of TDNiCr to an oxidizing environment. TDNiCr with an initial aluminum surface concentration of 4.95 wt pct has nearly comparable oxidation resistance to the TDNiCr-5.86Al alloy. Specimens with 4.3 wt pct Al at the surface have inadequate aluminum to form Al₂O₃ scales, and weight losses are observed after 40 h upon exposure of these specimens to 1.01 × 10⁵N/m² (760 torr) air at 1204°C.