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OXIDATION AND CONTAMINATION REACTIONS OF NIOBIUM AND NIOBIUM ALLOYS

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4268078· OSTI ID:4268078

Niobium was found to react linearly with air (600 to 1200 deg c) and with oxygen (400 to 1400 deg c). At 1400 deg c, a very rapid reaction with oxygen was observed. Contamination hardening during oxidation was attributed to diffusion of oxygen into the metal from the predominantly Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/ scale. Alloying effects could be correlated with relative ionic size and valence of the alloy addition and with properties of the alloy-element oxides. Additions with smaller ionic size or higher valence improved oxidation behavior up to 15 at.% alloying. These additions included chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium. Size effects predominated over valence effects. At alloying levels greater than 15 at.% elements having solid stable oxides, such as titanium and zirconium, improved the oxidation behavior. Elements with volatile oxides, such as molybdenum, rhenium, and vanadium decreased the oxidation resistance when added in amounts greater than 15 at. %. The most effective binary additions for improving oxidation resistance were chromium, molybdenum, titanium, and vanadium. A molybdenum-chromium alloy oxidized about 20% slower than the best binary alloy. The degree of improvement for the best alloys over unalloyed niobium ranged from a hundredfold at 600 deg c to sixfold at 1200 deg . The most effective additions were concluded to be those which form solid stable oxides of their own or which are capable of forming complex oxides such as spinels. (auth)

Research Organization:
Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-92
NSA Number:
NSA-13-008909
OSTI ID:
4268078
Report Number(s):
BMI-1317
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English