Carbon thin films deposited by the magnetron sputtering technique were evaluated by Raman spectroscopy to study the influence on their crystallinity caused by different parameters like the carbon deposition time, the different buffer-layers and substrates employed and also two distinct heat treatments. The present results showed that the choice of these parameters plays an important role in the production of these films. The results also indicate the possibility of using the technique for the production of carbon thin films to be employed in future in applications with controlled content of structural defects, predominance of ordered sp2 bondings and tendency of graphitization.

Long term isothermal and cyclic oxidation behavior of yttrium dioxide (Y2O3) coated Fe-20Cr alloy was studied. Oxidation tests were carried out in air for periods of up to 200 hours at 1000°C and the oxidation behavior of the alloy was evaluated gravimetrically. The Y2O3 coating reduced markedly the mass gain of the alloy. Energy dispersive spectroscopic analysis of scale sections on oxidized Y2O3 coated specimens revealed a Cr rich layer close to the metal/oxide interface and the presence of Y and Cr near the oxide/air interface, indicating diffusion of Cr through the Y2O3 layer. Further evidence of this diffusion was seen as change in colour of the Y2O3 coating from white to green after prolonged oxidation. X-ray diffraction analysis of the scale revealed perovskite-type YCrO3.This study attributes the increased oxidation resistance of the Y2O3 coated Fe-20Cr alloy to increased oxygen ion diffusion through the Cr2O3 scale due to YCrO3 formation and grain boundary segregated Y ion blocking alloy cation diffusion.

A variety of metallic components rely on properties that are specific to the alloy and its surface. Coatings have been extensively used to protect metallic surfaces from the aggressive effects of the environment to which it is exposed. In this investigation, the high temperature oxidation behavior of a FeCr and a FeCrY alloy coated with an aluminium based paint has been studied. The objective was to form the more resistant alumina surface layer on an aluminium free alloy. Aluminium based paint coated and uncoated specimens of the two alloys were oxidized for up to 200 hours at 1000 °C in air. The oxidized specimens were examined in a scanning electron microscope coupled to an energy dispersive system and the surfaces were analyzed by X ray diffraction analysis. The aluminium based paint coating increased the oxidation resistance of the alloys, mainly over extended periods. The FeCrY alloy coated with the Al based paint exhibited the highest oxidation resistance.

Doped lanthanum chromite has been used in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnects. The high costs involved in obtaining dense lanthanum chromite have increased efforts to find suitable metallic materials for interconnects. In this context, the oxidation behavior of lanthanum chromite coated Fe-20Cr and Fe-20Cr-4Al alloys at SOFC operation temperature was studied. Isothermal oxidation tests were carried out at 1000 °C for 20, 50 and 200 hours. Cyclic oxidation tests were also carried out and each oxidation cycle consisted of 7 hours at 1000/°C followed by cooling to room temperature. The oxidation measurements and the results of SEM/EDS as well as XRD analyses indicated that lanthanum chromite coated Fe-20Cr and Fe-20Cr-4Al alloys were significantly more resistant to oxidation compared with the uncoated alloys.

AISI 304L stainless steel powder compacts containing 2 vol% high purity rare earth oxides were prepared by mixing the different powders in a vibratory mill followed by pressing. The compacts thus obtained were sintered in a vacuum furnace and isothermal oxidation measurements were carried out in a muffle furnace, in air, up to 200 hours at 900 °C. The oxidized surfaces were examined in a scanning electron microscope and micro regions of the reaction products were studied using energy dispersive analysis. The addition of rare earth oxides decreased the oxidation rate of the stainless steel. Further evidence of predominant oxygen ion diffusion controlling the overall oxidation process in rare earth containing chromium oxide forming alloys has been observed.

High temperature corrosion of structural alloys in sulfur bearing environments is many orders of magnitude higher than in oxidizing environments. Efforts to increase sulfidation resistance of these alloys include addition of alloying elements. Aluminum additions to iron-chromium alloys bring about increase in sulfidation resistance. This paper reports the effect of pre-oxidation on the sulfidation behavior of Fe-20Cr and Fe-20Cr-5Al alloys in H2-2% H2S environment at 800 °C. The surfaces of sulfidized specimens were also examined. Pre-oxidation of the two alloys results in an incubation period during subsequent sulfidation. After this incubation period, the Fe-20Cr alloy showed sulfidation behavior similar to that when the alloy was not pre-oxidized. The incubation period during sulfidation of the Fe-20Cr-5Al alloy was significantly longer, over 45 h, compared to 2 h for the Al free alloy. Based on the microscopic and gravimetric data a mechanism for sulfidation of these alloys with pre-oxidation has been proposed.