Effect of nanocrystalline mixed rare earth oxide coatings on the high temperature oxidation behavior of Fe20Cr5Al alloy

Abstract

Rare earths (RE) have been used to improve high temperature oxidation resistance of chromium dioxide and alumina forming alloys. The RE can be added to the alloy as elements or as oxide to form dispersions. It can also be applied as a RE oxide coating to the surface of the alloy. In this investigation the sol-gel technique was used to prepare sols of the RE oxides as it produces nanocrystalline oxide particles. In an effort to increase further the oxidation resistance of high temperature alloys, optimization of RE oxide additions to the alloy surface has been attempted. This paper presents the effect of nanocrystalline oxide gel coatings of CeO2, Nd2O3, Pr2O3, CeO2 + Nd2O3, CeO2 + Pr2O3 and Pr2O3 + Nd2O3 on the oxidation behavior of Fe20Cr5Al alloys at 1100 °C. The individual oxides decreased oxidation rate. However, the CeO2 + Nd2O3 mixture did not increase oxidation resistance of the alloy further, compared to those with either one of these two rare earth oxides. The Pr2O3 + CeO2 mixture increased oxidation resistance of the alloy markedly where as the mixture Nd2O3 to Pr2O3 had no significant effect. The differences in the influence of a specific rare earth oxide or a mixture are attributable to differences in the ionic radii of the RE and the morphology as well as the crystallite sizes of the RE oxides.