High-temperature oxidation of Al-deposited stainless-steel foils

The oxidation resistance of Al-deposited Fe-Cr-Al foils containing small amounts of La and Ce was assessed by a cyclic oxidation test with temperature varying between room temperature and 1323 K to 1423 K in static air. (1) The Al content of Fe-Cr-Al-La, Ce foils can be increased by depositing an Al layer from the vapor phase. The deposition of a 1-mu m-thick Al layer on both sides of the 50-mu m-thick foil is equivalent to a 1.5 mass% increase in the Al content. The deposited Al diffuses into the foil during heat treatment. The uniform distribution of Al is obtained by heating at 1273 K for 18 ks. (2) After the initial transition stage the oxidation follows the parabolic law until breakaway sets in. The scale consists mainly of alpha-Al2O3 during the parabolic period. (3) The increase in the Al content by more than 5 mass% by the Al-deposition remarkably improves high-temperature oxidation resistance (smaller parabolic rate constant and longer protection time). (4) The Al-deposited foils have better oxidation resistance than the conventional foils with the same contents of Al and rare-earth elements. This is attributable to the different nature of the initially formed oxide on the Al-deposited foil. (5) The so-called rare-earth element effect was also observed for the Al-deposited foils. Predominant diffusion of oxygen through the Al2O3 scale and vacancy-sink mechanism are applicable to the present results.