Fe-Cr-Ni heat resistant alloys with aluminum and silicon addition, alone and in combination, were melted using an intermediate frequency induction furnace with a non-oxidation method. By the oxidation weight gain method, the oxidation resistances of the test alloys were determined at 1,200 ìC for 500 hours. According to the oxidation weight gains, the oxidation kinetic curves were plotted and the functions were regressed by the least squares method. The results show that the oxidation kinetic curves follow the power function of y = axb (a>0, 0<b<1). The effects of scale compositions on oxidation resistance were studied further by analyses using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is found that the composite scale compounds of Cr2O3, メ-Al2O3, SiO2 and FeCr2O4, with compact structure and tiny grains, shows complete oxidation resistance at 1,200 ìC. When the composite scale lacks メ-Al2O3 or SiO2, it becomes weak in oxidation resistance with a loose structure. By the criterion of standard Gibbs formation free energy, the model of the nucleation and growth of the composite scale is established. The forming of the composite scale is the result of the competition of being oxidized and reduced between aluminum, silicon and the matrix metal elements of iron, chromium and nickel. The protection of the composite scale is analyzed essentially by electrical conductivity and strength properties
