Corrosion resistance of structural materials to Ga2O at 1000 °C

The thermally-induced gallium removal (TIGR) process is capable of removing gallium from oxide powders through the sublimation of Ga2O at elevated temperatures in a reducing atmosphere. Heat-resistant structural materials typically used in the construction of furnaces and reaction chambers may be susceptible to embrittlement and corrosion in the gallium-rich environment of the TIGR process. The susceptibilities of several heat-resistant structural materials to corrosion in Ga2O-rich atmospheres are experimentally evaluated. Tungsten and SiC are found to be highly resistant to corrosive attack by Ga2O at elevated temperatures. Superalloys containing chromium and cobalt as well as a tungsten alloy containing nickel and copper are found susceptible to corrosive attack by gallium.