We systematically study the oxidation properties of sputter-deposited TiB2.5 coatings up to 700 °C. Oxide-scale thickness dox increases linearly with time ta for 300, 400, 500, and 700 °C, while an oxidation-protective behavior occurs with dox=250∙ta0.2 at 600 °C. Oxide-layer’s structure changes from amorphous to rutile/anatase-TiO2 at temperatures ≥ 500 °C. Abnormally low oxidation rate at 600 °C is attributed to a highly dense columnar TiO2-sublayer growing near oxide/film interface with a top-amorphous thin layer, suppressing oxygen diffusion. A model is proposed to explain the oxide-scale evolution at 600 °C. Decreasing heating rate to 1.0 °C/min plays a noticeable role in the TiB2.5 oxidation.
Funding: Swedish Research Council VR [2018-03957, 2019-00191, 2021-00357]; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF); Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials (AFM) at Link o ?; ping University (Faculty Grant SFO Mat LiU) [2009 00971]; Swedish National Graduate School in Neutron Scattering (SwedNess); Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation [KAW 2015.0043]