Protection of cobalt-based refractory alloys by chromium deposition on surface: Part I: Sub-surface enrichment in chromium by pack-cementation and diffusion

The feasibility of surface chromium enrichment by pack-cementation was assessed for different low chromium-containing cobalt alloys, in order to improve their resistance against high temperature oxidation. A binary Co–10Cr alloy, two ternary Co–10Cr–0.5C and Co–10Cr–1.0C alloys and two TaC-containing Co–10Cr-based alloys were elaborated by foundry for the study. 7.5 h-long and 15 h-long cementations at 1050 °C, followed or not by a 75 h-long heat treatment at 1200 °C were performed on these alloys. Microstructure examinations performed using a Scanning Electron Microscope and concentration profiles using Electron Probe Micro Analysis–Wavelength Dispersion Spectrometry were realized in order to analyze the level of Cr-enrichment of the sub-surface region, with as studied criteria: the nature of the external Cr-enriched zone, the maximal chromium content on surface and the depth of chromium enrichment. The Cr-enrichment of the sub-surface succeeded for the Co–10Cr alloy and for the two tantalum-containing alloys, with the formation of an external metallic zone containing around 30 wt.% Cr. In contrast the chromium carbides-containing alloys were effectively enriched in chromium in surface but in the form of a continuous chromium carbide layer which can induce other problems such as spallation and then possible fast oxidation of the denuded alloy. Finally it appeared that only the carbon-free alloys, and the alloys reinforced by carbides more stable than chromium carbides, are potentially able to be successful enriched in chromium in their sub-surface by pack-cementation.