HIGH-TEMPERATURE OXIDATION OF AL-MG ALLOYS

Surface-analysis techniques (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy) and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) have been used to study the mechanism of steady-state high-temperature oxidation of Al-Mg alloys. Two high-purity alloys containing 0.4 and 2.0 wt.% Mg were heat-treated in dry air at 550°C up to 90 hr. It was found that the oxide layer was composed of MgO and spinel (MgAl2O4), the major constituent being MgO. The molar concentration of MgO decreased with increasing depth, while that of spinel increased. The rate-controlling mechanism for the growth of the oxide layer in the Al-0.4Mg alloy was the solid-state diffusion of Mg in the MgO-spinel constituents. For alloys of higher-magnesium content, the growth of the oxide layer was controlled by solid-state diffusion of Mg through the adherent protective oxide areas and by the transport of Mg vapor across voids formed between the alloy substrate and the oxide layer. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation.