Oxidation-resistant Ge-doped silicide coating on Cr-Cr2Nb alloys by pack cementation

The halide-activated pack cementation process was modified to produce a Ge-doped silicide diffusion coating on Cr-Cr2Nb alloys in a single processing step. The morphology and composition of the coating depended both on the pack composition and processing schedule and also on the composition and microstructure of the substrate. Higher Ge content in the pack suppressed the formation of CrSi2 and reduced the growth kinetics of the coating. Ge was not homogeneously distributed in the coatings. Under cyclic and isothermal oxidation conditions, the Ge-doped silicide coating protected the Cr-Nb alloys from significant oxidation and from pesting by the formation of a Ge-doped silica film.