Abstract
Structural Fe-Cr-Ni alloys rely upon a thermally formed, protective, surface oxide scale to prevent rapid corrosive degradation. The protective capacity of the surface scale may be strongly influenced by the alloy composition, with minor additions of reactive elements playing an important role in the initial stages of scale formation. The influence of an addition of Zr on initial scale growth on an Fe-Cr-Ni alloy has been investigated in situ utilizing an environmental cell incorporated into a high-voltage electron microscope. Oxidation experiments were conducted on a pure ternary Fe-Cr-Ni alloy and one containing 6 wt.% Zr for durations up to 1800 s. At 500°C in a low oxygen-partialpressure environment, a continuous surface oxide layer formed more quickly on the Zr-free alloy than on the Zr-modified alloy. Also, on the Zr-modified alloy, the scale was richer in Cr, and the rate of increase in oxide grain size was also greater.
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