Isothermal oxidation behavior of NiCrAlY-coated 316L stainless steel at 900 ℃
摘要
To alleviate the pronounced degradation in oxidation resistance and mechanical integrity of bare 316L stainless steel during service above 800 ℃, a protective NiCrAlY coating was deposited on bare 316L stainless steel by multi-arc ion plating. This work comparatively investigates the microstructural evolution of uncoated and NiCrAlY-coated 316L stainless steel subjected to isothermal oxidation at 900 ℃ for various exposure times. The results demonstrate that long-term thermal exposure drives cracking and multiphase oxide scale formation on bare 316L, which severely degrades its mechanical performance. For coated specimens, continuous Al consumption during high-temperature oxidation sustains the growth of a protective alumina layer while triggering phase transformations within the NiCrAlY coating. Discrete (Al,Cr)2O3 composite oxide particles form and evolve at the coating–substrate interface, serving as a stable barrier that efficiently mitigates mutual elemental diffusion across the heterophase boundary. Following 300 h of oxidation, substantial Cr enrichment emerges throughout the coating matrix, deteriorating the mechanical performance of the NiCrAlY layer. This weakens its shielding capacity and induces mild degradation in the mechanical properties and structural stability of the underlying bare 316L stainless steel. Overall, this study unravels the stage-dependent microstructural evolution mechanisms for both uncoated and NiCrAlY-modified 316L stainless steel, and delineates the high-temperature protective and strengthening functions afforded by the NiCrAlY coating. The findings provide theoretical guidance and technical reference for surface modification strategies targeting this alloy for high-temperature service environments.