Deformation and cracking behavior of protective oxide scales on heat-resistant steels under tensile strain

Abstract

The deformation and cracking behavior of oxide scales formed in air on four heat-resistant steels and on nickel 99.6 have been studied in constant-extension-rate tests at 800°C. The strain rates in the experiments ranged between 10−6 and 10−9 s−1. Acoustic emission (AE) was used as an instrument for detecting the beginning of scale cracking. Additionally, metallographic, SEM, and micro-probe investigations were performed which supported the results from the AE measurements. The strain-to-cracking of the scales did not exceed 0.5% except when lateral growth effects in the oxide scales occurred, leading to critical strains of up to nearly 2.5%. Also the crack distribution in the scales was measured. The deformation and cracking behavior of the scales investigated could be explained by model like considerations.