Platinum-catalyzed high temperature oxidation of metals

Samples of Al, Cr, Ni, and Zr were sputter-coated with porous Pt-films with a particle size of 20–30 nm. Thermal oxidation of these samples was studied by gas phase analysis (GPA) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). SIMS analysis on partly Pt-coated samples of Al, Cr, Ni, and Zr at different oxide depths in areas with Pt and in areas away from Pt indicates an enhanced inward oxide growth in the Pt area and mm-ranged distance from Pt-area. Weight gain measurements on Pt-coated Ni samples show a reduced or increased oxidation rate depending on the amount of porous Pt-coating. Pt has two effects on the thermal oxidation of metals and the overall effect of Pt on the oxidation of metals depends on the mechanism of oxide growth in the absence of Pt.