Investigation of Stable Al₂O₃ Scale on Fe-Al Aluminized Coating for Tritium Barrier

It is well known that α-Al₂O₃ phase has stablility performance, high permeation reduction factor and good resistance performance in liquid LiPb, which is considered as the reference tritium barrier coating in future fusion reactor. In order to study the formation mechanism of stable α-Al₂O₃ scales on fusion structure material, the oxidation behavior of Fe-Al aluminized coating on China Low Activated Martensitic （CLAM） steel was investigated under the oxygen partial pressure from 1 Pa to 20 kPa at the temperature of 940-980 ℃. The Al₂O₃ scales were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis meter, grazing angle X-ray diffractometer, glow discharge spectrometer, focused ion beam and transmission electron microscope. A single continuous Al₂O₃ scales with the maximum thickness of about 2 000 nm was formed on the diffusion Fe-Al aluminized layer. Thermogravimetric analysis results show that the higher oxidation rate constant is achieved while increasing the oxygen partial pressure, and then oxidation rate constant decreases. The phase transformation of Al₂O₃ scales on the surface of Fe-Al aluminized coating was studied during different oxidation time ranges from 3 min to 180 min. The metastable γ-Al₂O₃ and α-（Al0.948Cr0.052）₂O₃ phases is formed in the earlier oxidation process and finally transformed to stable α-Al₂O₃ phase. The features of the transient α-（Al0.948Cr0.052）₂O₃（113） and α-Al₂O₃（113） were detected by GXRD and then confirmed by focused ion beam and transmission electron microscope.