Relative Ti2AlC scale volatility under 1300 °C combustion conditions

Abstract

Turbine environments may degrade high temperature ceramics because of volatile hydroxide reaction products formed in water vapor. Accordingly, the volatility of transient TiO2 and steady-state Al2O3 scales formed on the oxidation-resistant Ti2AlC MAX phase ceramic was examined in 1300 °C high velocity (Mach 0.3, 100 m/s) and high pressure (6 atm, 25 m/s) burner rig tests (BRT). Unlike metals, the ceramic was stable at 1300 °C. Unlike SiC and Si3N4, neither burner test produced a weight loss, unless heavily pre-oxidized. Lower mass gains were produced in the BRT compared to furnace tests. The commonly observed initial, fast TiO2 transient scale was preferentially removed in hot burner gas (~10% water vapor). A lesser degree of gradual Al2O3 volatilization occurred, indicated by grain boundary porosity and crystallographic etching. Modified cubic-linear (growth-volatility) kinetics are suggested. Gas velocity and water vapor pressure play specific roles for each scale. Furthermore, a 7YSZ TBC on Ti2AlC survived for 500 h in the Mach 0.3 burner test at 1300 °C with no indication of volatility or spalling.