Initial stage oxidation corrosion of commercial ferritic stainless steels with different Cr contents at 650 °C for solid oxide fuel cells

Selecting adequate ferritic stainless steel (FSS) with a high corrosion resistance and a low cost is critical for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at intermediate temperature. In this study, the corrosion behaviors of four commercial FSSs involving TS430, TY441, YG442, and TY445 with a Cr content ranging from 16.18 wt.% to 21.73 wt.% are investigated at 650 °C. The oxidation mass gains, microstructures of surface oxide scale, and electrical conductivities are measured. The effects of grain size as well as doped elements are estimated together with the Cr volatilization. Flaky Cr₂O₃ particles are formed on TS430 and TY441 dominated by the outward migration of Cr³⁺. In comparison, a thin and dense layer of chromia is observed on YG442 and TY445. A high Cr content and a uniformly distributed grain size are conducive to the formation of a thin and dense chromia scale on the FSS surface during the initial oxidation process. On the other hand, the addition of Nb, Ti, and Mo weakens the outward diffusion of Cr³⁺ and reduces the particle size of chromia. After oxidation at 650 °C for 120 h, scattered (Mn, Cr)₃O₄ spinel particles occur on TS430, YG442, and TY445. TY445 and YG442 exhibit a higher conductivity although all the results of area specific resistance (ASR) are less than 6 mΩ·cm². Meanwhile, the effect of Cr volatilization is enlarged on the estimation of mass gain at 650 °C compared with even higher temperatures.