National Physical Laboratory

Mechanical response of protective oxide scales

Objectives

In high-temperature plant the lifetime of components may be limited by breakdown of the protective oxide scale. Present design strategy for high-temperature plant does not allow for accelerated metal loss rates caused by scale breakdown, but includes instead an arbitrary safety factor. This safety factor is, by its very nature, conservative.

This project improved the predictive capability for oxide scale failure to help engineers and designers develop high-temperature plant that operates in a more efficient manner.

Last Updated: 25 Mar 2010
Created: 30 Aug 2007