The influence of a pre-existing multi-oxide layer on the subsequent re-oxidation at different temperatures of a 22Co-21Ni-23Fe-29Cr- 1.6Si-1Mn superalloy was investigated. The pre-oxidation heat-treatment (PHT) at 1200 degrees C for 5 min resulted in the formation of a protective multi-oxide layer. The behavior of pre-treated and non pre-treated samples during isothermal oxidation at 800, 900 and 1000 degrees C in air was studied. Results showed that rate-constants of the oxidation processes of pre-treated samples were significantly lower than those of the non pre-treated ones. Oxidation at 800, 900 and 1000 degrees C in air for 100 h, resulted in the formation of MnCr2O4, Cr2O3 and SiO2 compounds for both kinds of samples. A diffusion-controlled mechanism is proposed to describe the oxidation process. (C) 2016 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.