Microstructural and mechanical characterization of alumina scales thermally developed on iron aluminide alloys

Several alumina-forming Fe-Al intermetallic alloys have been oxidized in oxygen for 100 h at 1000 C to understand the scaling kinetics, scale morphology, scale adhesion, and strain accommodation in the scales. Oxidation studies were conducted by thermogravimetry, followed by analyses of the surfaces of oxide scales. In addition, samples were cooled to 77 K and then fractured; then, their scale/metal interfaces were analyzed. Some of the scales were adhesion-tested by applying a tensile load to pull the scale away from the substrate. Finally, ruby fluorescence was used to measure in-plane strains in the oxide scales and values correlated with scale microstructures