A thermo-gravimetric and microstructural study of the oxidation of Nbss/Nb5Si3-based in situ composites with Sn addition

The effect of Sn addition on the oxidation of the Nb–24Ti–18Si–5Al–5Cr–2Mo–5Hf–5Sn (at.%) alloy (JG6) in the as cast (AC) and heat treated (HT) conditions was studied at 800 °C and 1200 °C in static air using thermo-gravimetry and microstructural analysis. The oxidation kinetics, morphology and microstructure of the oxide scale and the microstructure of the bulk of the oxidised alloy were investigated. Oxidation occurred by inward oxygen anion diffusion. The oxidation of JG6 at 800 °C and 1200 °C is compared with the oxidation of Sn-free Nb–Ti–Si–Cr–Al–Mo–Hf alloys and is found to have been improved by the addition of Sn. At 800 °C pest oxidation, which was exhibited by the heat treated Nb–24Ti–18Si–5Al–5Cr–2Mo–5Hf alloy (JG4-HT), was eliminated by alloying with 5 at.% Sn. The elimination of pesting at 800 °C is attributed to the nature of the Nb solid solution in the alloy which consists of Sn-rich, Si-rich and Ti lean solid solution usually surrounded by Sn-poor, Si-poor and Ti-rich solid solution. The oxide scales that formed at 1200 °C on JG6 did not separate from the base metal and consisted of Nb2O5, TiO2, SiO2, HfO2 and TiNb2O7. TiN, instead of TiO2, and the (Nb,Ti)5(Sn1−xSix)3 phase, which is considered as a ternary phase based on Nb5Sn2Si, are formed in the diffusion zone of the alloys JG6-AC and JG6-HT after oxidation at 1200 °C. The formation of these phases in the oxidised alloys JG6-AC and JG6-HT controlled the penetration of oxygen into the base material. The better oxidation performance of JG6-AC compared to JG6-HT at 1200 °C is attributed to the formation of Nb3Sn in the former. It is suggested that the presence of the Sn-poor, Si-poor and Ti-rich Nbss in the microstructure is a key to the formation of the Nb3Sn phase at the scale/diffusion zone interface in the JG6-AC oxidised at 1200 °C.