Abstract:
In this paper, the oxidation of U-2.5%Nb alloy in air at a temperature range of 60-300 ℃ was studied by measuring oxide thickness and weight gain. In addition, the morphologies were examined by using SEM. The results indicate that, under experimental condition, the oxidation of U-2.5%Nb alloy follows a parabolic law in the temperature range of 60-80 ℃, at the temperatures between 100 ℃ and 150 ℃, a paralinear law is presented, however, between 200 ℃ and 300 ℃, the oxidation obeys a linear law. At the parabolic oxidation stage, the activation energy is calculated to be 74.70 kJ/mol, and at the linear oxidation stage, which is 31.48 kJ/mol. The SEM examination reveals that, during the stage of parabolic oxidation, the “surface relief” is produced due to the difference in oxidation rate of alpha phase and gammatwo phase, but the scale is dense and compact. However, when the oxidation changes to the linear-oxidation stage, the scale becomes loose, and the vertical cracks are observed in the scale.