Fe–Cr alloys containing 5∼40 wt%Cr were oxidized in a stream of O
2 and wet H
2 at 1000 and 750°C. In O
2 at 1000°C the oxidation rate decreased with increasing Cr concentration, particularly from 10 to 20%.
The oxide scale on these alloys is generally cracked during oxidation because of the stress generated in the scale, which leads to severe oxidation. In the high Cr alloys having a
bcc structure, however, sufficient Cr is supplied from the interior to the surface region owing to the high Cr diffusivity and the large Cr content. Consequently a healing layer will be readily formed when cracks are generated. In the low Cr alloys having a
fcc structure, on the other hand, the Cr supply is insufficient because of the low Cr diffusivity and the small Cr content. Consequently these alloys will generally fail to form a protective layer. Thus the observed large difference in oxidation rate between high and low Cr alloys can be attributed to the difference in healing ability of both alloys. The Cr concentration profile in oxidized alloys supports the above consideration. The results in H
2 at 750°C are also reasonably explained in terms of crack generation and healing.
The comparison of oxidation behavior between Fe–Cr and Ni–Cr alloys leads to the conclusion that the oxidation resistance of Ni–Cr is afforded by less cracked Cr
2O
3 while that of Fe–Cr is, though the scale is often cracked, due to the rapid healing.
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