Modelling of the effect of grain boundary diffusion on the oxidation of Ni-Cr alloys at high temperature

Grain boundaries in oxide scales have a strong effect on oxidation kinetics when they act as diffusion short circuits. This study proposes a quantitative evaluation of the phenomenon by modelling. Various cases of oxide microstructure evolution are treated using both analytical and numerical resolutions. Results showed that the effect of oxide grain growth on the oxidation kinetics can be analysed considering a transitory stage for which the oxidation kinetics is not purely parabolic. Some guidelines for choosing the appropriate post-treatment method for the analysis and extrapolation of experimental oxidation kinetics are given.