An ODS FeAl intermetallic alloy has been nitrided at low-energy high flux implantation diffusion leading to the formation of hexagonal AlN and α-Fe segregation. Its high temperature behaviour is subsequently evaluated under isothermal oxidation at 800º C.
Microscopy techniques (SEM, TEM) will show that nitridation hinders aluminiumoutward diffusion and enhances iron outward diffusion giving rise to a layered structure.
1.-IntroductionUpon the high temperature oxidation of titanium aluminides, TiN and/or Ti 2 AlN subscales have been observed to develop at the substrate/oxide interface [1,2], which sometimes have been referred to provide an effective barrier for outward Al diffusion [3] or to prevent oxygen dissolution in the alloy [4] thus improving their oxidation resistance. When these alloys are nitrided, the same nitrogen containing phases appear [5] but only detrimental effects have been reported to occur compared to non nitrided specimens owing to a lower amount of Al 2 O 3 developed at the top surface [6][7][8].In the case of iron aluminides without oxygen-active elements, their oxidation behaviour is worse in air than in pure oxygen due to internal nitridation below a defective alumina scale [9]. Pint et al. polishing in SiC# 4000 emery paper was performed down to a thickness of about 50 μm. Then, Ar bombardment at 3 keV was carried out in a GATAN PIPS™ (precision ion polishing system) model 691 at different angles.
3.-Results
3.1.-NitridationThe surface of the nitrided specimens appeared to be homogeneous with protrusions at the top surface and remains of porosity. The former seemed to be pinned by yttria