Oxidation behaviour and its effect on fracture toughness of Niobium metal
Karthikeyan Ramachandran, Yasith C. Jayakody, D.D. Jayaseelan
Abstract
Niobium metal was studied for its oxidation behaviour at different temperatures (800, 1000 & 1200 °C) and time (1, 3 & 5 h). The study revealed that Nb underwent oxidation forming pro-active Nb oxides with initial formation of meta-stable Nb12O29 which forms as an oxidisation resistant layer. However, formation of Nb2O5 from a meta-sable Nb12O29 did not act as protective layer as it exposed underneath to further oxidation leading to cracks. The oxidation kinetics of Nb shown a linear behaviour and the devised mathematical model using Deal Grove determined the thickness of oxide layers. The un-protectiveness of Nb2O5 was verified by the Vickers hardness (8.06 ± 0.4 GPa) and indentation fracture toughness (28.14 ± 0.4 MPa.m1/2) of material which decreased with increase in oxidation temperature.