Modelling the high temperature oxidation of titanium alloys: review of analytical models and development of a new numerical tool PyTiOx

In order to limit the ecological impact of air traffic and its operating costs, the aeronautical industry is looking for improving engines efficiencies and substitutes to high density Ni-based superalloys. Thus, a wider use of Ti-alloys operating at higher temperatures is one of the developed solutions. Being able to predict as accurately as possible the oxidation behavior of Ti-based components at high temperatures appears therefore crucial to improve their sizing and durability. Analytical models based on the solid-state diffusion laws can be found in the litterature. They are fairly accurate in most cases, but they reveal some intrinsic limitations in specific cases such as temperature transients or thin components. Numerical models were later developed to break down these limitations. First results from a new numerical tool called “PyTiOx” (still under development are presented here. They confirm the intrinsic limitations of analytical models. In the case of thin samples, the numerical model predicts an increase of scaling kinetic when metal becomes O-saturated, whereas analytical models do not.