PALLADIUM-MODIFIED ALUMINIDE COATINGS - MECHANISMS OF FORMATION

A systematic investigation of the influence of Pd-Ni predeposit alloys on the microstructure and composition of aluminum diffusion coatings has been conducted on Ni base superalloys (mainly IN738). Their metall urgical structure has been studied with a special emphasis on the natu re of the phases and distribution of the various elements throughout t he coating section. A two-layer structure similar to that formed on si mple aluminide coatings is observed whatever the type of aluminizing t reatment (low and high aluminum activity, pack of vapor-phase coating) . The superficial layer is, however, very different from that observed in simple aluminide coatings, since it is constituted with a ternary PdNi aluminide. Palladium concentration profiles, which significantly differ when using low or high activity cements, and the results of a s tudy of the ternary Ni-Pd-Al phase diagram, provide qualitative indica tions concerning the coatings' growth processes. Palladium, if present at a sufficient level, enhances Al diffusion in the beta phase. In th e case of low activity processes, a consequence of this increase of Al diffusion flux is the location of an NiAl reaction zone inside the co ating.