Oxidation of Ni-Cr-W ternary alloys

The oxidation behavior in air at 1000–1250°C of four Ni-Cr-W alloys containing sufficient chromium content (∼22 at. % Cr) for protective Cr2O3 formation in a binary Ni-Cr alloy is reported. Generally for alloys high in W (10 and 16 at.% W), the rejection of tungsten into the alloy beneath the scale introduced a steep Cr concentration gradient and slower Cr diffusion such that continuous precipitation of Cr2O3 internal oxides prevented the formation of a Cr2O3 protective scale. The alloy most dilute in W (1.6 at. % W) formed a protective scale at short times with little outer NiO scale, but scale fractures led to internal oxidation and rapid nonprotective kinetics. After an initially rapid oxidation increment to form NiO, the 3 at.% Walloy formed a protective Cr2O3 scale with about the same steady-state parabolic kinetics as a binary Ni-30Cr alloy. The effect of ternary Wadditions on the development of Cr2O3 scales on Ni-Cr-W alloys is considered as a ternary analog to Wagner's description of the oxidation of Cu-Pt or Cu-Pd alloys.