OXIDATION OF A TWO-PHASE Cu-75Cr ALLOY IN AIR AT 700-900℃

The cormsion in air of a two-phase Cu-75Cr alloy was studied at 700-900℃. Thealloy cormded nearly parabolically at 700-800℃, but at 900℃ its instantaneousparabolic mte constant decreased with time. The scales were complex and consistedof an outermost layer of copper oxide generally followed bg a layer of the double ox-ide Cu2 Cr2 O4 sometimes containing particles of unoxidized chromium surmunded bya chromia layer. An innermost layer of chromia was also observed in some cases.Finally metallic copper was al8o frequently mixed with chromia particles. No Cr de-pletion was observed in the alloy close to the inteffoce with the scale. In any case,this alloy was not able to form an exclusive continuous protective chromia layer. Thespecial cormsion behavior Of this alloy is typical of two-phase binary systems with alange solubility gaP in which the outwaof dthesion fiux of the most-reactive componentin the alloy is strongly reduced and may be inswncient to fOrm a protective externallayer of the cormsponding oxide. In paTticular, the presence of particles of Cr withina double oxide layer is very unusual and is allowed only for the kinetic reason.