The influence of surface roughness on its high temperature oxidation for an Ni-base superalloy was studied using laser profilometry, atomic force microscopy, mass change measurements, glow-discharge optical emission spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and positron annihilation methods. The isothermal and cyclic air oxidation tests were performed at 1000 °C and showed dependence of oxidation behavior on surface roughness. Smoother surfaces oxidation resulted in the formation of a multilayered oxide scale consisting of NiO, Cr2O3, and internally oxidized Al2O3 while a rougher surface formed protective Al2O3 scale. The factors responsible for different oxidation behaviors were determined as higher concentration of vacancies and increased residual stresses in the near-surface region of studied alloys.
Keywords: Ni-base alloys; defects; oxidation kinetics; oxidation resistance; oxide scale formation; residual stresses; surface roughness.