Abstract:The oxidation behavior of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) reference tungsten grade has been evaluated in dry air in the temperature range 600 800 °C. At 600 °C, the scale remained protective while the integrity of W 18 O 49 layer was kept. Rapid increase in mass gain resulted from mas sive cracking at local areas in the W 18 O 49 layer. Then, a coarse non protective columnar WO 2.92 scale was developed which favoured rapid inward oxygen transport into the alloy. At 700 and 800 °C, growth stres ses in the scale were released through local cracking. At this stage, WO 2.92 became progressively trans formed into WO 3 when the oxygen partial pressure increased across the scale thickness.