Effect of magnesium oxide content on oxidation behavior of some superalloy-base cermets

The effect of increasing magnesium oxide (MgO) content on the cyclic oxidation resistance of hot-pressed cermets of MgO in NiCrAlY, MgO in Hoskins-875, MgO in Inconel-702, and MgO in Hastelloy-X was investigated. The cermets with magnesium oxide levels of 5, 10, 20, and 40 vol percent were examined. The cyclic oxidation behavior of these cermets at 1100 and 1200 C in still air was determined by a thermogravimetric method supplemented by X-ray diffraction analysis and light and electron microscopy. In all instances, MgO prevented grain growth in the metallic phase. No evidence of oxidation along interphase boundaries was detected. Cermets of MgO in NiCrAlY and MgO in Hoskins-875 were superior to cermets of MgO in Inconel-702 and MgO in Hastelloy-X. Their oxidation resistance was degraded only when the MgO content was 40 vol percent. The oxidation behavior of MgO-in-Inconel-702 powder cermets containing 5- and 10-vol percent MgO was approximately similar to that of pure Inconel-702 compacts. The 20- and 40-vol percent MgO content reduced the oxidation resistance of MgO-in-Inconel-702 powder cermets relative to that of pure Inconel-702.