Oxidation Behavior of Heat-Resistant Type HK Steel (HK30Nb) at 800 °C

The cyclic oxidation behavior of HK30Nb heat-resistant steel processed by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) was compared to its cast counterpart during exposures in air and air + 10% H 2 O at 800 °C. The specific finer microstructure and lower Mn of the LPBF alloy resulted in lower oxidation rates in dry air and faster establishment of a continuous Cr 2 O 3 scale in air + 10% H 2 O compared to coarse-grained cast HK30Nb with higher Mn. Differences in alloy mechanical strength and therefore their ability to accommodate high temperature and oxidation-induced stresses as well as differences in thermal expansion coefficients between the alloy and the formed oxides (Cr 2 O 3 only for the LPBF and Cr 2 O 3 and MnCr 2 O 4 for the cast specimens) during temperature cycling were found to result in a greater extent of spallation for the LPBF than for the cast alloy in dry air at 800 °C.