Effect of Y₂O₃ on Microstructure and Oxidation Behavior of Aluminide Coating on Ni-Based Superalloy

Abstract

The oxidation behavior of Ni-based superalloy GH586 which is treated by pack-cementation aluminizing was investigated. Scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the microstructure of aluminide coatings and the surface morphologies of the oxide scales. Results show that the main phase of the aluminide coatings was NiAl. The aluminide coating can be formed at lower temperature due to the addition of rare earth oxide in the mixture powders. The thickness of aluminide coating at 900°C was about 110μm, and another aluminide coating with rare earth oxide Y2O3 at 800°C was about 38μm. The oxidation kinetics of aluminized specimens approximately followed a parabolic oxidation law at 1000°C. The morphology of the oxidation scales was primarily θ-Al2O3 with minor α-Al2O3. The scales of the coatings with rare earth oxide Y2O3 after oxidation was more dense.