The relative content of strengthening element tantalum (Ta) and oxidation-resistant element chromium (Cr) is an essential value for superalloys to obtain an excellent combination of oxidation resistance and mechanical properties. In the present paper, the isothermal oxidation behavior of several single crystal Ni-base superalloys with different Ta/Cr (wt. %, similarly hereinafter) ratios at 1000 °C in static air has been systematically investigated to explore the optimal Ta/Cr for excellent oxidation resistance. A detailed microstructure study using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and an electro-probe microanalyzer (EPMA) was performed to reveal the oxidation products and mechanisms. For all alloys, a three-layer structured scale consisting of an outer (Cr, Al, Ti, Ni, Ta)-O layer, an inner Al₂O₃ layer and an inner nitride layer was formed. As Ta/Cr increased, the amounts of Ta-containing products, cracks, holes and inner nitride increased. Meanwhile, the completeness of the Al₂O₃ layer got worse. It was shown that if Ta/Cr ≤ 0.5, Ta increased the growth rate of Cr₂O₃ via the doping effect induced by Ta cations. If Ta/Cr > 0.5, Ta reduced the completeness of Cr₂O₃ through competitive growth of Ta₂O₅ and Cr₂O₃. A good oxidation performance can be expected with the value Ta/Cr ≤ 0.5.

Nickel-based superalloys are extensively used in fabricating high-temperature gas turbine components, owing to their superior high-temperature strength, excellent structural stability, and remarkable hot corrosion resistance. The influence of impurity sulfur content on their hot corrosion performance is a core scientific issue in hot-end component compositional design and smelting. This study investigated chromium (Cr)-rich nickel-based superalloys with sulfur (S) contents of 3 ppm, 16 ppm, and 42 ppm via XRD, SEM, and an EPMA, focusing on their hot corrosion behavior under a 100% Na₂SO₄ deposit at 900 °C. The results indicated that their hot corrosion products were basically identical, forming a Cr-dominated outer oxide layer rich in Ti, Co, and Ni, an Al₂O₃-based inner corrosion zone, and a CrS_x-dominated sulfide layer. With increasing sulfur content, the outer layer thickness decreased from approximately 30 μm to less than 20 μm, pores in the outer oxide layer increased in quantity and size, and internal sulfides and nitrides accumulated. The average depth of spallation increased from 55 μm for the S3 alloy to 80 μm for the S16 alloy, with the S42 alloy showing even more extensive spallation. The alloy’s hot corrosion performance deteriorated notably with increasing S content. The mechanism of sulfur’s effect on hot corrosion behavior is that sulfur in the alloy segregates at oxide film defects, enhancing defect stability and increasing their quantity and size. These defects serve as rapid diffusion channels for corrosive media, thereby accelerating the alloy’s hot corrosion rate.