High-temperature oxidation of copper-manganese alloys

The oxidation behavior of copper-manganese alloys (2–35 wt. % Mn) in pure oxygen at 760 Torr was investigated at 100° intervals between 550 and 850°C. Gravimetric measurements of the oxidation kinetics have been combined with microstructural studies of the reacted samples in order to evaluate the reaction mechanisms. The scales formed on Cu-2Mn, Cu-5Mn, Cu-10Mn are always composed of three different layers; in any case manganese is present only in the inner layer. The scales formed on Cu-20Mn and Cu-35Mn are composed of two layers, both containing manganese, with a more Cu-rich outer layer. In all the samples internal oxidation in combination with external scale formation is observed.