Oxidation Behavior of Zr43Cu45Al12 Bulk Metallic Glass at 400-525 °C in Air Atmosphere

Abstract

The oxidation behavior of Zr43Cu45Al12 bulk metallic glass was studied over the temperature range 400-525 °C in air atmosphere. The oxidation kinetics of the material changes significantly, from the parabolic one in 400 °C to logarithmic kinetics in T = 450 °C and higher. The inversion of oxidation kinetics was observed. Composition of the scale varied over the examined temperature range, consisting mostly of monoclinic ZrO2, tetragonal ZrO2 and CuO, with minor amounts of α-Al2O3 within whole temperature range and Cu2O in temperatures 400 and 450 °C. The α-Al2O3 presence can be correlated with decrease of oxidation rate in the higher temperatures.