Kinetics and dynamics of surface thermal oxidation in Al-ZrB2 nanocomposites

Aluminum nanocomposites are important for various applications. However, it's not understood how thermal oxidation can be altered by their nano-scale reinforcements. Here, we systematically studied the kinetics and dynamics of the thermal oxidation in in-situ Al-ZrB2 nanocomposites in air. The results indicate that the ZrB2 nanoparticles enhance the thermal stability of the Al crystal planes. It's also confirmed that ZrB2 worsens the anti-oxidation performance of Al under lower temperature (< 673 K), while slowing oxidation under higher temperature (> 673 K). A detailed quantitative study indicates the electric field-controlled mechanism dominates the oxidation. This understanding will be of significance for engineering their surface properties.