A pre-formed yttria alumina garnet (YAG) and Al2O3 mixed oxide layer induced by continuous laser surface melting in air for inhibiting β depletion in a CoNiCrAlY bond coat alloy

This work investigated the influence of pre-formed yttria alumina garnet (YAG) and Al 2 O 3 mixed oxide layer induced by laser surface melting (LSM) on the oxidation behaviour of a CoNiCrAlY bond coat alloy. As-cast CoNiCrAlY alloy was vacuum heat treated at 1100 °C for 2 h and LSM was conducted at a laser power of 400 W and scanning speeds from 200-800 mm/min in air. Both heat-treated (HT) and LSM CoNiCrAlY alloys were subsequently oxidised at 1100 °C for 100 h. It was found that the β phases were refined and redistributed along the γ phase boundaries after LSM. In addition, an initial mixed oxide layer composed of YAG and Al 2 O 3 was developed on the surface during LSM, which was due to the high oxygen affinity of Y and Al. It was further demonstrated that the pre-formed YAG/Al 2 O 3 mixed oxide layer at scanning speeds of 200-600 mm/min effectively suppressed oxide growth and inhibited β depletion during oxidation. This was attributed to the fact that the stable YAG acted as grain boundary barriers for oxygen inward diffusion. However, a newly formed Al 2 O 3 layer, associated with a corresponding β depletion zone, appeared underneath the mixed oxide layer at the highest scanning speed of 800 mm/min. This was due to that the spallation of the mixed oxide layer and refined γ phases allowed the oxide growth at the alloy surface and subsequently corresponding β depletion occurred. • A pre-formed YAG/Al 2 O 3 oxide layer was induced during laser surface melting due to the high oxygen affinity of Y and Al. • High dislocation density was observed in the YAG/Al 2 O 3 oxide layer after LSM. • No β depletion was observed after long-term oxidation for LSM CoNiCrAlY at 200-600 mm/min. • A β depletion developed at 800 mm/min due to oxide microcracking and subsequent growth of Al 2 O 3 .