The transient oxidation of single crystal NiAl+Zr

The 800 C oxidation of oriented single crystals of Zr doped beta-NiAl was studied using transmission electron microscopy. The oxide phases and metal-oxide orientation relationships were determined to characterize the transient stages of oxidation prior to the transformation to or formation of alpha-Al2O3. On (001) and (012) metal orientations, NiAl2O4 was the first oxide to form followed by delta-Al2O3 which becomes the predominant oxide phase. All oxides were highly epitaxially related to the metal; the orientation relationships being function of parallel cation close-packed directions in the meta and oxide. On (011) and (111) metal orientations, gamma-Al2O3 became the predominant oxide phase rather than delta-Al2O3, indicating a structural stability from the highly epitaxial oxides. The relative concentration of aluminum in the oxide scales increased with time indicating preferential gamma-or delta-Al2O3 growth. The striking feature common to the orientation relationships is the alignment of 100 m and 110 ox directions, believed to result from the minimal 3 percent mismatch between the corresponding (100)m and (110)ox planes

The evolution and growth of Al2O3 scales on beta-NiAl

The formation and growth of Al2O3 scales on (beta)-NiAl were studied using electron microscopy and other analytical techniques to gain an understanding of the oxidation properties of (beta)-NiAl and of alumina-forming alloys, in general. The transient and mature stages of oxidation were studied as well as the transformation stage during which the oxide scale transforms from metastable Al2O3 phases to the thermodynamically stable alpha-Al2O3 phase. The transient oxidation stages were studied at 800 deg C and for short times at 1100C. At 800C, the scales consist predominantly of delta-Al2O3 which forms by cation vacancy ordering in the defective spinel lattice of gamma-Al2O3. At 1100C, a fast-growth morphology of theta-Al2O3 forms as a surface layer over delta-Al2O3. For both oxidation temperatures, the scales are often epitaxially oriented with respect to the metal. The transient scales grow by outward cation diffusion as evidenced by surface growth morphologies. The transformation to alpha-Al2O3 occurs within 1 hour at 1100C by a nucleation and radial growth process. The large volume decrease associated with the transformation results in a highly strained alpha-Al2O3 microstructure. A change in scale growth mechanism from outward cation to inward anion diffusion allows transient surface morphologies to be smoothed by surface diffusion. The mature stage of oxidation involves the growth of an alpha-Al2O3 scale having the lacey morphology formed as a result of the gamma yields alpha transformation. Growth of the scale occurs by counterdiffusion along grain boundaries resulting in ridges formed by impingement of alpha-Al2O3 nuclei during the transformation stage. Also scale growth occurs by inward oxygen diffusion through healed cracks; the cracks result from transformation stresses. The measured growth rates of scales having the lacey morphology are an order of magnitude less than fine-grained alpha-Al2O3 scales. Metal orientations were found to have a large effect on oxide morpholoies during all stages of oxidation

Oxygen impurities in NiAl: Relaxation effects

We have used a full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital method to calculate the effects of oxygen impurities on the electronic structure of NiAl. Using the supercell method with a 16-atom supercell we have investigated the cases where an oxygen atom is substitutionally placed at either a nickel or an aluminum site. Full relaxation of the atoms within the supercell was allowed. We found that oxygen prefers to occupy a nickel site over an aluminum site with a site selection energy of 138 mRy (21,370 K). An oxygen atom placed at an aluminum site is found to cause a substantial relaxation of its nickel neighbors away from it. In contrast, this steric repulsion is hardly present when the oxygen atom occupies the nickel site and is surrounded by aluminum neighbors. We comment on the possible relation of this effect to the pesting degradation phenomenon (essentially spontaneous disintegration in air) in nickel aluminides.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. B (Aug. 15, 2001

Oxidation mechanisms of \u3b2-NiAl + Zr determined by SIMS

The oxidation mechanisms of single crystal Zr-doped \u3b2-NiAl from 800 to 1200 \ub0C were determined using primarily secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) imaging and depth profiling. High spatial resolution SIMS imaging provides a means for critically assessing the effects of diffusion through the boundaries of the various morphologies of \u3b1-Al2O3 scales that form on \u3b2-NiAl. Transient oxidation occurs by outward Al diffusion through transition Al2O3 scales, \u3b8-Al2O3 in this case, for temperatures from 800 to 1100 \ub0C. Steady-state oxidation occurs by counter-diffusion of oxygen inward and both Al and Zr outward through boundaries in the \u3b1-Al2O3 ridge morphology.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Influence of <FONT FACE=Symbol>g</font>-phase on the high- temperature oxidation of NiAl-Fe alloys

The oxidation of NiAl, NiAl-20at.%Fe and NiAl-30at.%Fe at 1000-1100 °C in air has been studied. Pure NiAl shows excellent oxidation resistance due to the formation of an Al2O3 layer. NiAl-20Fe also shows good oxidation resistance due to the formation of an Al2O3 scale on a <FONT FACE="Symbol">b</font>-phase substrate. Moreover, some nodules consisting of mixed oxides of Fe and Ni grow over the ductile <FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font>-phase surface incorporated to the <FONT FACE="Symbol">b</font>-phase substrate. NiAl-30Fe alloy undergoes a much faster oxidation due to the formation of a non-protective Fe and Ni-rich scale, which is extremely susceptible to spallation. The addition of Fe to NiAl is detrimental to its oxidation resistance