Oxidation of four palladium-rich ceramic fusing alloys.

Oxidation of four ceramic fusing alloys with varying amounts of palladium (35-79 wt%) and with different oxidizing elements (In, Sn, Ga, Cu, Co) was studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The alloy containing cobalt and gallium oxidized mainly externally forming a rather continuous Co-rich oxide layer on the surface and a Ga-rich layer underneath it. The other alloys were oxidized internally. The oxidation behaviour of Pd was found to be strongly dependent on the other oxidizing constituents.