The Role of Zr in the High-Temperature Oxidation of Fe<sub>3</sub>Al

The paper describes an examination of the effect of the addition of zirconium as a third element on the heat-resisting properties and explains the high temperature oxidation mechanism of Fe3Al intermetallic compounds. The Fe3Al and Fe3Al-0,05Zr specimens have been isothermally oxidized in the temperature range of 1173-1473 K in synthetic air for 100 hrs. The formed oxide layer, about 1,5-2 μm thick, was Al2O3. An examination of the cross-sectioned scales by SEM-EDS showed that the alumina layer consisted of a small inner columnar layer and an outer equiaxed grain layer. Additionally, very fine (50-150 nm) oxide grains rich in Zr, further identified as ZrO2, were found across the alumina sca…