M. Allouard et al., DEVELOPMENT OF OXIDATION-RESISTANT HIGH-TEMPERATURE NBTIAL ALLOYS ANDINTERMETALLICS, Journal de physique. IV, 3(C9), 1993, pp. 419-428
The effect of alloying elements like Ti, Al, Cr, V and Mo on the oxida
tion resistance of Nb at high temperature (between 700-degrees-C and 1
400-degrees-C) has been studied. The value of the parabolic oxide grow
th constants, 0.1 g2/cm4 s < K(p) < 100 g2/cm4 s, depends on the natur
e and morphology of oxides formed in the external scale. The growth of
protective oxides, like alumina, requires a high content of alloying
elements, which usually means a lower melting point and the formation
of brittle phases.