High Temperature Oxidation Behavior of P91, P92 and E911 Alloy Steels in Dry and Wet Atmospheres

The oxidation behavior has been studied under both dry and wet oxidation atmosphere at 873 K to 1073 K. In dry atmosphere the oxidation resistance of these alloys has been described by the formation of a protective oxide FeCr(2)O(4) at 873 K to 973 K. At 1073 K, the kinetics are parabolic with fast growing oxide leading to spalling of oxide for P92 alloy. Oxide scale formed in air was protective with a chromium rich scale at 873-973 K, while double layered oxides were formed at 1073 K with iron oxide an outer layer and inner Cr-rich spinel FeCr(2)O(4). In wet atmosphere oxide scale was reasonably different. The oxide layer showed porous in wet atmospheres where as dense oxide layer formed during dry oxidation. The oxidation rate of P92 alloy is about 3, 2 and 1 orders of magnitude higher than the P9, P91 and E911 alloys in wet atmospheres.