High temperature scaling of Ni-15Cu-5Al alloy in 1×105 Pa pure oxygen

The oxidation of the ternary alloy Ni-15Cu-5Al in 1×105 Pa pure oxygen at 700 °C and 800 °C was studied. The results show that the behavior of the Ni-rich alloy is similar to that of the binary Ni-Al alloy with the same Al content in the form of an external NiO layer coupled to the internal oxidation of aluminium. The presence of 15% (mole fraction) Cu cannot modify substantially the values of relevant parameters affecting the transition from the internal to the external oxidation of aluminium. The presence of 5% Al reduces the oxidation rate of the corresponding Ni-Cu alloy during the whole oxidation stages, though 5% Al is still insufficient to form protective external alumina scales.