Stress rupture creep tests were performed on uncoated and Cu-30vol%Cr coated NARloy-Z copper alloy specimens exposed to air at 482 C to 704 C. The results showed that creep failure in air of unprotected NARloy-Z was precipitated by brittle intergranular surface cracking produced by strain assisted grain boundary oxidation (SAGBO) which in turn caused early onset of tertiary creep. For the protected specimens, the Cu-Cr coating remained adherent throughout the tests and was effective in slowing down the rate of oxygen absorption, particularly at the higher temperatures, by formation of a continuous chromium oxide scale. As the result of reducing oxygen ingress, the coating prevented SAGBO initiated early creep failure, extended creep deformation and increased the creep rupture life of NARloy-Z over the entire 482 C to 704 C test temperature range
