Microstructure and Oxidation Resistance of Cr-Ta-Si alloys

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe phase equilibria and oxidation resistance of alloys lying near the Cr-rich end of the Cr- Ta-Si system have been investigated. Samples were prepared by arc-melting and homogenized at 1300°C for 500hrs. Identification of the phases present and their compositions were carried out using x-ray diffraction and electron probe micro-analysis and the ternary phase diagram on the Cr-rich end was plotted. A three-phase equilibria was found to exist between an A2 Cr-solid solution, a hexagonal Laves phase and the A15 Cr3Si intermetallic phase for alloys with higher contents of Si.Thermo-gravimetric analysis of the alloys at 1100°C demonstrated an improvement in the oxidation resistance of the ternary alloys with increasing Si-content. The microstructures of the oxidized samples revealed the formation of a thick chromia layer on top of a Cr,Ta-mixed oxide layer and an internal oxidation zone for all the alloys. A protective silica layer was not observed to form in any of the alloys tested.