Oxidation behaviour and microstructural evolution of FeCrAl ODS alloys at high temperature

Abstract

The oxidation behaviour of a commercial oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) FeCrAl alloy (MA 956) and of a dispersion-free FeCrAl alloy (APM) were studied during isothermal exposures in air between 1,100°C and 1,300°C. After short heat treatments, the oxide film developed on MA 956 was more protective than that developed on APM. Longer isothermal exposures were conducted on MA 956 in order to examine the long-term behaviour of the oxide layer and the microstructural evolutions of the alloy. Chemical analyses of the substrate for increasing treatment duration revealed a continuous decrease of the matrix aluminium content due to oxide growth. After 4 months at 1,300°C, aluminium content of the alloy decreased to a critical value below which a continuous and protective oxide film could no longer be formed. Longer exposure times were carried out in order to relate the different stages of the catastrophic breakaway oxidation and identify the parameters involved in this phenomenon. Other substrate evolutions like cavity growth and nature and morphology changes of the Y2O3 particles were observed and are discussed in relation with the oxidation behaviour.