Isothermal oxidation of an alloy formed by dendrites of Ni3Al intermet
allic phase and NiAl + Ni3Al ''matrix'' has been performed and the oxi
dation product structure studied. Aluminium and oxygen with small amou
nt of nickel were identified by EDX analyses in the oxide scale create
d on the surface of the alloy after 50 hour oxidation in air at 1373 K
. gamma- and alpha-Al2O3 modifications and crystals of spinel NiAl2O4
were found by the selected area electron diffraction method on a pre-t
hinned foil after short-term oxidation (5 min).