Abstract
A single‐step chloride‐activated pack cementation process has been developed for growing a Cr/RE(Y, Zr) ‐modified or a RE(Y, Zr, Hf)‐doped aluminide diffusion coating on commercial Ni‐base superalloys. The coatings consisted of an outward‐grown hypostoichiometric 
layer with a substantial enrichment in Cr and a low reactive element content. The Cr was both dissolved in the 
matrix and precipitated as α‐Cr second‐phase particles. Aluminide coatings grown outwards in a pack permitting powder contact with the substrate were embedded with 
and reactive element (RE) oxide pack particles. Physical separation of the substrates from the powder mixture eliminated powder entrapment but reduced the growth rate and the amount of Cr enrichment in the coating. Isolation of the substrate from the pack introduced partial rate control by gaseous diffusion.