High temperature oxidation behavior of the AISI 430A and AISI 430E stainless steels in Ar/H2/H2O atmosphere

The high temperature oxidation behavior of two ferritic stainless steels type AISI 430A and AISI 430E is examined at low oxygen pressure and high temperatures. The AISI 430A steel is ferritic up to 860 °C. Above this temperature, this steel is bi-phased: presence of austenite and ferrite phases. The 430E steel is stabilized with Nb, and is ferritic at all temperatures. The oxidation experiments were performed in a thermobalance SETARAM TGDTA 92, in the range of 850-950 °C, in Ar/H2/H2O atmosphere, under oxygen partial pressures lower than 1.3 x 10-18 atm. The microstructure and the compositi...