High-T oxidation of alloys

High-temperature metallic materials remain a keystone for numerous applications including renewable energy generation, conversion and storage. Oxidation or corrosion under service conditions critically affect their lifetime and performance, so that fundamental understanding of microscopic oxidation mechanisms is essential for future design of materials with improved properties. In collaboration with IEK-2 and IEK-4, we investigate high-temperature oxidation in different alloy classes including FeCrAl steels for heating elements and catalyst carriers, ferritic high-Cr steels (Crofer family) for solid oxide fuel cells, Co-base Haynes™ alloys or W-based SMART alloys for future fusion reactors. Application of advanced analysis techniques such as atom probe tomography, secondary ion mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectrone spectroscopy delivers unique information on nanoscale elemental distribution in 3D as well as chemical bonds in the oxide scale and metallic matrix, highlights oxygen diffusion paths through the protective oxide and reveals the role of reactive alloying elements in the oxidation behavior. In combination with other analytical techniques, these results opens pathways for the knowledge-based development of advanced high-temperature materials with improved oxidation resistance.

Contact: Dr. Ivan Povstugar