Comparing the oxidation behaviour of three generations of single crystal nickel-based superalloys at an intermediate service temperature
Comparing the oxidation behaviour of three generations of single crystal nickel-based superalloys at an intermediate service temperature
The oxidation behaviours of three different generations of single crystal Ni-based superalloys (SRR-99 – 1st generation, CMSX-4 – 2nd generation, and CMSX-10N – 3rd generation) have been investigated and compared at 550 °C. Isothermal oxidation tests were carried out at various exposure times ranging from 2 h up to 1000 h and it was found that oxide morphology and development showed noticeable differences between the alloys. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 3D imaging reconstruction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to characterise the oxide scales. The external and internal oxides were studied through high-resolution imaging, measurements from which revealed the oxidation kinetics of CMSX-4 and CMSX-10N followed a near-parabolic law whilst a logarithmic law better described the kinetics behaviour of SRR-99. Thermodynamic modelling was used to predict the species and composition of oxides formed in each alloy and compared to measured EDS and XRD results. From the experimental results and modelling, it was found that the mechanism and oxide products formed for CMSX-4 and CMSX-10N are very similar, as NiO initially formed externally over the γ channels and the γ’ precipitates were preferentially oxidised internally at the γ/γ’ interface.
Intermediate temperature, Ni-based superalloys, Oxidation, Oxidation kinetics, Oxidation mechanism, Single crystal
Doyle, Joseph C.
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Saunders, Edward A.
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Woolrich, Jane M.
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Light, Mark E.
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Gao, Nong
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Reed, Philippa A.S.
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5 January 2026
Doyle, Joseph C.
a748099b-d455-4900-b5d9-3d8951c9943f
Saunders, Edward A.
198b7704-4fc2-4e26-924e-e8073387011b
Woolrich, Jane M.
0f0892aa-6069-4d8c-a284-7ac7d41708f7
Light, Mark E.
cf57314e-6856-491b-a8d2-2dffc452e161
Gao, Nong
9c1370f7-f4a9-4109-8a3a-4089b3baec21
Reed, Philippa A.S.
8b79d87f-3288-4167-bcfc-c1de4b93ce17
Doyle, Joseph C., Saunders, Edward A., Woolrich, Jane M., Light, Mark E., Gao, Nong and Reed, Philippa A.S.
(2026)
Comparing the oxidation behaviour of three generations of single crystal nickel-based superalloys at an intermediate service temperature.
Corrosion Science, 261, [113582].
(doi:10.1016/j.corsci.2025.113582).
Abstract
The oxidation behaviours of three different generations of single crystal Ni-based superalloys (SRR-99 – 1st generation, CMSX-4 – 2nd generation, and CMSX-10N – 3rd generation) have been investigated and compared at 550 °C. Isothermal oxidation tests were carried out at various exposure times ranging from 2 h up to 1000 h and it was found that oxide morphology and development showed noticeable differences between the alloys. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 3D imaging reconstruction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to characterise the oxide scales. The external and internal oxides were studied through high-resolution imaging, measurements from which revealed the oxidation kinetics of CMSX-4 and CMSX-10N followed a near-parabolic law whilst a logarithmic law better described the kinetics behaviour of SRR-99. Thermodynamic modelling was used to predict the species and composition of oxides formed in each alloy and compared to measured EDS and XRD results. From the experimental results and modelling, it was found that the mechanism and oxide products formed for CMSX-4 and CMSX-10N are very similar, as NiO initially formed externally over the γ channels and the γ’ precipitates were preferentially oxidised internally at the γ/γ’ interface.
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Accepted/In Press date: 25 December 2025
Published date: 5 January 2026
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© 2026 The Authors
Keywords:
Intermediate temperature, Ni-based superalloys, Oxidation, Oxidation kinetics, Oxidation mechanism, Single crystal
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Local EPrints ID: 509036
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/509036
ISSN: 0010-938X
PURE UUID: c5c3dd4a-1221-42e6-869c-96c9dba7fb00
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Date deposited: 10 Feb 2026 17:45
Last modified: 11 Feb 2026 02:38
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Author:
Joseph C. Doyle
Author:
Edward A. Saunders
Author:
Jane M. Woolrich
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