High-temperature oxidation of Al-Mg alloys

Surface-analysis techniques (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy) and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) have been used to study the mechanism of steady-state high-temperature oxidation of Al-Mg alloys. Two high-purity alloys containing 0.4 and 2.0 wt.% Mg were heat-treated in dry air at 550°C up to 90 hr. It was found that the oxide layer was composed of MgO and spinel (MgAl₂O₄), the major constituent being MgO. The molar concentration of MgO decreased with increasing depth, while that of spinel increased. The rate-controlling mechanism for the growth of the oxide layer in the Al-0.4Mg alloy was the solid-state diffusion of Mg in the MgO-spinel constituents. For alloys of higher-magnesium content, the growth of the oxide layer was controlled by solid-state diffusion of Mg through the adherent protective oxide areas and by the transport of Mg vapor across voids formed between the alloy substrate and the oxide layer.