Oxidation of a chromia-forming nickel base alloy at high temperature in mixed diluted CO/H2O atmospheres

Corrosion of a chromia-forming nickel base alloy, Haynes 230®, has been investigated under impure helium containing a few Pa of CO and H2O at 900 °C. It has been found that this alloy reacts simultaneously with CO and H2O. Oxidation by CO has been revealed to occur mainly in the first hours. CO diffuses through the scale via short-circuit pathways and oxidizes Al, Cr and Si at the oxide/metal interface. Kinetics of CO oxidation has been investigated and several rate limiting steps are proposed. In the long term, H2O is the major oxidant of chromia-forming nickel base alloys in impure helium.