An atom probe tomography study of internal oxidation processes in Alloy 600

Internal oxidation in Alloy 600 (Ni–16Cr–9Fe) involves the inward diffusion of O, which preferentially reacts with solute elements (e.g. Cr, Fe) forming internal oxide precipitates. In this work, the internal oxidation process and its resultant metal-oxide heterostructures are systematically analyzed in 3D at the finest length scales, using atom probe tomography (APT). Internal oxidation is induced by exposure of Alloy 600 to 480 °C …