High Temperature Oxidation of the Austenitic (35Fe27Cr31Ni) Alloy Sanicro 28 in O2 + H2O Environment

The present study investigates the high temperature oxidation of alloy Sanicro 28 (35Fe27Cr31Ni) in 5% O-2 and in 5% O-2 + 40% H2O. Polished steel coupons were isothermally exposed in a tube furnace at 600, 700 and 800 A degrees C for up to 168 h. The samples were investigated by gravimetry, grazing angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-rays (STEM/EDX). The results show that the material forms a protective scale in both environments. The scale is duplex. The inner part of the scale consists of corundum type chromium-rich (Cr (x) Fe1-x )(2)O-3, and the outer layer consists of spinel type oxide. Chromia is lost from the protective oxide by vaporization of CrO2(OH)(2) in O-2 + H2O environment. The capacity of Sanicro 28 to suffer chromia vaporization without forming a rapidly growing iron-rich oxide is attributed to its high Cr/Fe ratio. The spinel formed at the oxide/gas interface could in addition be beneficial for oxidation behavior in wet oxygen because it may slow down chromia evaporation.