A microstructural study of the oxide scale formation on ODS Fe-13Cr steel

The high-temperature oxidation behavior of a Y2O3-dispersed Fe-13Cr steel w as investigated in air at temperatures of 700 degreesC, 800 degreesC, and 9 00 degreesC for 10 000 h. The kinetic data showed that oxide scale formatio n obeyed a parabolic rate law at each temperature and that the oxidation ra te was lower than in other studies based on shorter test times. Microstruct ural analysis of the oxide scales formed at 700 degreesC and 800 degreesC w as conducted using cross-sectional specimens and analytical electron micros copy (AEM). This analysis showed that the main scale was a continuous Cr-ox ide and that an underlying amorphous silica layer formed at both temperatur es, despite the low Si content (0.05 wt%) in the alloy. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.