On the Microstructure and Isothermal Oxidation of the Si-22Fe-12Cr-12Al-10Ti-5Nb (at.%) Alloy

Nb-silicide based alloys are new ultra-high temperature materials that could replace Ni-based superalloys. Environmentally resistant coating system (s) with αAl(2)O(3) or SiO(2) forming bond coat alloys that are chemically compatible with the Nb-silicide based alloy substrates are needed. This paper makes a contribution to the search for non-pesting bond coat alloys. The microstructure and isothermal oxidation at 800 °C of the silicide-based alloy Si-22Fe-12Cr-12Al-10Ti-5Nb (OHC2) were studied. The cast alloy exhibited macrosegregation of all elements. The microstructures in the cast alloy and after the heat treatment at 800 °C consisted of the same phases, namely TM(6)Si(5), TM(5)Si(3) (TM = transition metal), FeSi(2)Ti, Fe(3)Al(2)Si(3), (Fe,Cr)(Si,Al), and an unknown phase of dark contrast. The latter two phases were not stable at 950 °C, where the TMSi(2) was formed. There was evidence of endothermic reaction(s) below 1200 °C and liquation at 1200 °C. The alloy followed parabolic oxidation kinetics after the first hour of isothermal oxidation at 800 °C, did not pest, and formed a self-healing scale, in which the dominant oxide was Al(2)O(3). The alloy was compared with other alumina or silica scale-forming intermetallic alloys and approaches to the design of bond coat alloys were suggested.