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Biogas is an alternative source of fuel potentially used to run solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). It mainly consists of CH4 and CO2 which can degrade the SOFC interconnect, which is typically made of stainless steel. To investigate the effect of each gas constituent, we focussed here on the effect of CO2 on high-temperature oxidation behavior of and scale adhesion on the stainless steel interconnect, Type 430 stainless steel. The samples studied were oxidised in CO2 at contents of 5–100% at 800 °C. The oxidation kinetics were found to be parabolic with the rate constant increasing when the CO2 content increased. The scale adhesion was assessed using a tensile-test method. The scale formed in the atmosphere containing higher CO2 content exhibited poorer scale adhesion, as indicated by a lower strain initiating the first spallation and a larger spallation percentage after the first spallation took place. The worsened scale adhesion relates to pores formed at the scale/steel interface. The adhesion energies were further quantified giving the values of about 40–100 J m–2. Oxidation mechanisms were suggested based on the dependence of the parabolic rate constant on the oxygen partial pressure and the inward diffusion of carbon-bearing species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium vaporisation from chromia-forming alloys when exposed to high temperatures can deteriorate the protective property of oxide scale. This problem affects the lifetime of solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolysers using chromia-forming alloys as interconnectors. In this work, AISI 441, a commercial grade stainless steel which chromium vaporisation investigation has not been reported so far, was chosen for study. Chromium vaporisation rates of bare AISI 441 and AISI 430 and AISI 441 and AISI 430 coated with Mn-Co spinel by electroplating method were measured in an atmosphere of 5 % HO in O over the temperature range of 650-900 °C with the linear velocity of the humidified oxygen stream varied in the range of 0.8-3.0 cm s. For uncoated samples, AISI 441 showed a lower chromium vaporisation rate in comparison with that of AISI 430. Mn-Co spinel coating could reduce the chromium vaporisation rate from AISI 430 surface. However, on the contrary, the Mn-Co spinel coating could not only fail to suppress the chromium vaporisation, but it also promoted the chromium vaporisation from AISI 441 surface by 2 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]