High temperature oxidation behavior of AISI 304 and AISI 430 stainless steels

The oxidation behavior of AISI 304 and AISI 430 stainless steels was investigated from 1100 °C up to 1200 °C. Mössbauer spectroscopy and x ray diffraction were used to access the phase composition of the formed scales. The main crystalline phases found in the oxidized materials at temperatures above 1100 °C were hematite and magnetite for AISI 430 steel, and hematite and a spinel-like phase for AISI 304 steel. Hematite was found to be the dominant oxide at lower temperatures, whereas magnetite preferentially forms at higher temperatures. The activation energy for oxidation is smaller for AISI 430 steel in relation to AISI 304 steel in the range of studied temperatures, and therefore the AISI 430 steel is less resistant towards oxidation at high temperatures.