An Approach to Describing the Simultaneous Erosion and High-Temperature Oxidation of Alloys

Abstract

The rate of wastage of an alloy surface subjected to erosion under conditions where high-temperature oxidation can occur can be significantly greater than that arising from erosion alone. This is because the erosion conditions can act to accelerate the oxidation process by causing regular shedding of the otherwise protective oxide scale. It is suggested that an important parameter in determining the rate of erosion-oxidation is the erodent flux, since the time available for oxide growth (or regrowth) in a given area is determined by the interval between successive erodent impacts. Using this simple premise, an approach is suggested by which the rate of erosion-oxidation can be related to the factors that control the alloy oxidation process, and those that describe the erosive environment. The assumptions made are examined, and some of the implications of this approach are discussed.