High temperature oxidation studies of yttrium implanted pure iron and various steels

Abstract

Yttrium implanted and unimplanted pure iron, extra low carbon steel, low manganese steel, and low manganese–carbon steel were analysed at 700°C and under an oxygen partial pressure P_O2 of 0·04 Pa for 24 h to show the effect of yttrium implantation on high temperature oxidation resistance. Specimen oxidation weight gains were studied by thermogravimetry, and structural analyses were carried out by in situ high temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) with the same experimental conditions. The aim of this paper is to show that the initial nucleation stage of the main compounds induced by oxidation at high temperature depends on the initial specimen composition and the surface treatment (yttrium implantation). The results obtained by in situ high temperature XRD will be compared with those from thermogravimetry for a better understanding of the weight gain curves observed during oxidation tests. This study is a fundamental approach which demonstrates the improved corrosion resistance of yttrium implanted specimens at high temperature.