Cyclic oxidation behavior of Ni3Al-based single crystal alloy IC21

In this study, the cyclic oxidation tests of the Ni3Al-based single-crystal superalloy IC21 were carried out at 800, 900, 950, 1000, 1050 and 1100 °C in air. The present study shows that the complex oxide scale on the surface of the alloy is made up of an outer columnar NiO layer, an intermediate mixture of NiO and NiAl2O4 layer with a small amount of Mo oxides and an inner continuous layer of α-Al2O3. The cyclic oxidation kinetics curves show that oxidation resistance at 800, 900, 950, 1000 and 1050 °C seems to follow a similar law and is better than that at 1100 °C. The overall weight changes at 1100 °C follows a parabolic law. Spallation and severe rumpling of the oxide scale are observed on the surface of the alloy at 1100 °C, revealing the occurrence of disastrous oxidation.