Microstructural characterization of oxide morphologies on Ni and Inconel foams exposed to concentrated solar radiation

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2010-04, Vol.496 (1), p.644-649
• Main Authors: Michailidis, N., Stergioudi, F., Omar, H., Pavlidou, E., Tsipas, D.N., Albanakis, C., Missirlis, D., Granier, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Corrosion; Corrosion mechanisms; EDS; Exact sciences and technology; Foams; Metals. Metallurgy; Ni-based metal foam; Nickel; Nickel base alloys; Oxidation; Oxide morphological structures; Oxides; Scanning electron microscopy; SEM; Solar oxidation; Solar radiation; Superalloys
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2010.02.153

The microstructural characterization of oxide surface morphologies formed on both high purity Ni and Inconel foams exposed to concentrated solar radiation is investigated by the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDXS. Oxidation was achieved by concentrated solar radiation at temperatures ranging between 200 and 1100 °C for 30 min under conditions of dynamic air flow. SEM observations revealed a rapid homogeneous oxidation in the Ni-foam with three different surface oxide structures formed in relation with the process temperature. An important effect of substrate morphological and compositional features was only observed in Inconel foams, independent of the test temperature, with the existence of coarse and fine oxide regions denoting the non-uniformity of the oxidation process. The above-presented results give evidence for a potential use of the tested foam materials as volumetric solar receivers.