High-temperature oxidation

High-temperature oxidation refers to a scale-forming oxidation process involving a metallic object and atmospheric oxygen that produces corrosion at elevated temperatures.

High-temperature oxidation is a kind of High-temperature corrosion. Other kinds of high-temperature corrosion include high-temperature sulfidation and carbonization. High temperature oxidation and other corrosion types are commonly modelled using the Deal-Grove model to account for diffusion and reaction processes.

Mechanism of oxidation
High temperature oxidation is generally occurs via the following chemical reaction between oxygen (O2) and a metal M:

nM + 1/2kO2 = MnOk

According to Wagner's theory of oxidation, oxidation rate is controlled by partial ionic and electronic conductivities of oxides and their dependence on the chemical potential of the metal or oxygen in the oxide.