LOW-TEMPERATURE OXIDATION OF FE-24 WT-PERCENT-CR

Ferritic polycrystalline Fe-24 wt.% Cr was oxidized in pure oxygen at 190 ≤ T≤490° C and pressures in the range 5.3×10-2-13.3 Pa for periods of up to 5 hr. The reaction proceeded in three stages. An initial period of accelerating rate was accompanied by oxide island nucleation and growth. Following island coalescence the rate was approximately logarithmic at low temperatures and somewhat slower than parabolic at high temperatures. Rate control during this period was thought to be due to mass transport through the oxide grain boundaries left by the island impingement process. During these first two stages the oxide formed was γ-M2O3 with possibly some spinel. The final stage of reaction involved the appearance of α-M2O3 on the outer oxide surface and a substantial slowing of the oxidation rate due to the low diffusivity in this phase. © 1979 Plenum Publishing Corporation.