In both the case of nickel and titanium metal oxidation studies, research has shown a large number of fundamental differences between present understanding of oxidation and our observations. In addition, totally new observations have been made: the observation that there is considerable transport of oxygen towards the metal-oxide interface, despite suggestions made by Hughes (Ref. 6) that Ni diffuses through grain boundaries towards the gas interface; the surface state of the metal plays some vital role in the process of metal inclusion in the case of nickel; grain boundaries are important; oxidation of Ti appears controlled by Ti interstitials when the metal is pure; oxide scales from impure Ti metal incorporate many of the impurities of the base material; and impurities in the Ti, particularly Mo, suppress the interstitial content of the oxide, and must therefore alter the growth mechanism.
DOE contract number: AC02-79ER10428 OSTI Identifier 5757026 Research organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (USA). Dept. of Materials Engineering.