No presente trabalho avalia-se o comportamento de um aço inoxidável ferrítico AISI 430 em altas temperaturas visando o seu uso como interconector em pilhas a combustível de óxido sólido (PaCOS), evidenciando principalmente a morfologia, a composição química da camada de óxido formada e a variação microestrutural manifestada principalmente na variação do tamanho do grão. Amostras deste aço foram tratadas isotermicamente a 650°C, 850°C e 1050°C em diferentes tempos. Esta análise foi realizada com uso das técnicas de microscopia eletrônica de varredura e difração de raios-X. Os resultados indicam que a 650°C já foram observadas evidências da formação de uma camada muito fina de óxidos. Nas temperaturas de 850ºC e 1050°C observou-se o crescimento dos grãos e formação de uma camada de óxidos constituída por pequenos "microcristais" contendo O, Fe, Cr e Mn na sua composição.

In this work the behaviour of type AISI 430 ferritic stainless steel at high temperatures and its use as SOFCs interconnect material is evaluated. The main objective is to show the morphologic chemistry composition of the oxide layer formed in such circumstances as well as the microstructural variation revealed by its grain size. The Samples of this type of steel were heat treated isothermally at 650° C, 850°C and 1050°C at several holding times. They were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results indicate that at 650°C evidence of a very thin oxide layer formation was already found. Furthermore, at the temperatures of 850°C and 1050°C it grain growth and formation of an oxide layer consisting of small microcrystals with O, Fe, Cr and Mn in their composition were observed.

Chitosan microspheres of a small particle size and with good sphericity were prepared by a spray-drying method followed by treatment with a cross-linking agent. Owing to restrictions on the use of cross-linked chitosan microspheres in the pharmaceutical field, d,l-glyceraldehyde, a biocompatible reatant was used. The parameters studied affecting extent of cross-linking were cross-linking time and concentration of the cross-linking agent. Glutaraldehyde, the aldehyde most frequently employed as chemical cross-linking agent for proteins, was also used as a control. The cross-linked spray-dried chitosan microspheres were analyzed with respect to their morphological aspects, particle size, zeta potential and water uptake capacity. It was found that an increase either in d,l-glyceraldehyde concentration or in duration of cross-linking caused a decrease in both the swelling capacity and the zeta potential of the chitosan microspheres. Compared to glutaraldehyde, d,l-glyceraldehyde appears to be a good cross-linking agent for chitosan microspheres with the advantage that it is nontoxic.