Blistering behavior during oxide scale formation on steel surface

Abstract

Blistering occurs when oxide scale is swollen during oxidation. Blistered scale causes surface defect problems when it is rolled. Present study investigated the nucleation and growth behavior of blistering when steel is oxidized at high temperature. The following conclusions are drawn. Blistering phenomenon has the nucleation and growth process. At the nucleation stage scale is delaminated at the scale/metal interface. The gas compositions inside blisters at this stage are CO, CO2, and N2. The steel surface inside blisters is oxidized while the stage changes from nucleation to growth. At the growth stage, the separated steel surface from the scale is not oxidized.