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The oxidation of two ternary Fe-Cu-Al alloys containing 10 at.% Al (Fe-65Cu-10Al and Fe-30Cu-10Al) has been studied at 800-900 degrees C under 1 atm O-2. Under all conditions both alloys show an initial faster stage during which Fe-65Cu-10Al corrodes more rapidly at 800 degrees C than at 900 degrees C, while Fe-30Cu-10Al follows nearly identical kinetics at both temperatures. As oxidation proceeds, a continuous alumina layer is eventually established on the surface of the two alloys, thus decreasing significantly their oxidation rates. Altogether, the Fe-rich alloy Fe-30Cu-10Al oxidizes slightly faster than the Cu-rich alloy Fe-65Cu-10Al at both temperatures. The possible reasons for the decrease in the critical Al content needed to form external alumina scales for the Cu-rich alloy in comparison with binary Cu-Al alloys are examined. (c) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.