Novel Chromium–Silicon Slurry Coatings for Hot Corrosion Environments

Ni-based superalloys are commonly used in gas turbines because of their exceptional high-temperature mechanical properties. To secure a long service life, the materials must also have sufficient corrosion resistance. Therefore, diffusion coatings are widely used to enrich the surface in protective oxide scale-forming elements. For temperatures between 650 and 950 °C, where hot corrosion occurs, Cr-based coatings are advantageous. These are commonly applied via the laborious pack cementation process. Recently, a novel cost-effective Cr/Si slurry coating process has been developed which demonstrated resistance to oxidative high-temperature environments. Here, the protection of the slurry coatings against hot corrosion type I at 900 °C on the Ni-based superalloy Rene 80 is investigated and compared to coatings produced by pack cementation. Prior to the 300-h exposures in air containing 0.1% SO₂ at 900 °C, 4 mg/cm² of Na₂SO₄ was deposited on the material surfaces. The uncoated Rene 80 exhibited rapid dissolution of the initial oxide scale followed by catastrophic break away oxidation. In comparison, the slurry coatings showed significantly improved hot corrosion resistance compared to the uncoated alloy and a better protection than a Cr pack cementation coating. The Cr pack cemented Rene 80 showed improved hot corrosion resistance, but Cr depletion in the subsurface zone occurred with increasing exposure time, associated with the propagation of Al internal oxidation and increasing sulfidation. In contrast, the slurry coatings formed an external Cr₂O₃ scale coupled with an agglomeration of SiO₂ underneath and a continuous Al₂O₃ subscale which offered a better diffusion barrier and leading to superior long-term protection against hot corrosion.