The γ/γ′ Co-based alloys are a new class of cobalt superalloys, which are characterized by remarkable high temperature strength owing to strengthening by γ′-Co3(Al, X) phases. In this investigation, the effect of cerium addition on oxidation behavior of model Co-Al-W alloys was studied. The introduction of Ce aimed at improvement of the oxidation resistance of γ′-forming Co-based superalloys. The minor additions of cerium (0.1, 0.5 at.%) were added to the base alloy Co-9Al-9W. The alloys were prepared via induction vacuum melting (VIM). Further, a primary microstructure of the alloys was analyzed with particular regard to a segregation of Ce. The thermogravimetric analysis (TG) under non-isothermal conditions was used to preliminary estimate the oxidation behavior of alloys at different temperatures. During experiment, differential thermal analysis (DTA) was performed simultaneously. After this test, cyclic oxidation expermients was carried out at 800°C for 500 h. In as-cast state, Ce segregates to interdendritic areas and forms intermetallic phases. The effect connected with melting of interdendritic precipitates was observed at 1160°C. Ce-containing alloys were less prone of oxide spallation. Moreover, oxidation rate of these alloys substantially decreased after 100h of oxidation, whereas mass of the sample corresponding to base alloy continued to increase.

In this investigation, the formation of oxide scales on different Co-Ni based superalloys of γ–γ′ type was analyzed. Co-20Ni-7Al-7W (at. %) alloy as well as its W-free modifications based on Co-Ni-Al-Mo-Nb and Co-Ni-Al-Ta systems was analyzed under conditions of high temperature oxidation at 800 and 900°C. Therefore, the alloys were isothermally oxidized at selected temperatures for 100 h in laboratory furnace. Afterwards, the oxidation products were evaluated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The performed tests showed that W-free alloys exhibit worse oxidation resistance compared to those of Co-Ni-Al-W alloys. After oxidation at 900°C, all alloys were prone of oxide spallation. The scales characterized by oxide peeling were mostly composed of complex Co-based oxides, including CoWO4, CoTa2O6, Co2Mo3O8, CoNb2O6.