High-Temperature Oxidation of Stellite 12 Hardfacings: Effect of Mo on Characteristics of Oxide Scale

This study aims to understand the oxide scale formation on the surfaces of commercial and Mo (10 wt.%)-modified Stellite 12 hardfacings deposited on 4140 steel. For this purpose, samples of the hardfacings were isothermally oxidized in air at various temperatures in between 500 and 900 °C for 30 h. As a result of changes in the microstructure upon Mo addition, about 50% higher mass gain at all oxidation temperatures was observed. The characteristics of the developed oxide scales were examined by utilizing Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis. The oxide scale formed over Stellite 12 consisted of CoO-, Co₃O_4- and Cr₂O₃-type oxides, while additionally CoMoO₄-type complex oxide was detected on Mo-modified hardfacing, more likely at the alloy–scale interface. On the basis of findings of isothermal oxidation tests, the formation mechanisms of this complex oxide imposing better wear resistance as reported in our previous studies were explained during high-temperature wear testing, i.e., dynamic oxidation conditions.