Ex-situ and in-situ investigations of thermal anti-oxidation treatments of stainless steels by reflection mode EXAFS

Different thermal treatments were performed for the anti-oxidation of steel surfaces, and the processes were investigated ex-situ and in-situ by surface sensitive reflection mode EXAFS experiments at the Cr and Fe K-edges. While the samples for the ex-situ studies were heat-treated in a conveyor belt furnace at temperatures between 600 and 900 °C in inert carrier gases (N2 or Ar) using different additives such as hydrogen (H2) and monosilane (SiH4), the in- situ anti-oxidation treatments have been performed in a high vacuum environment (p < 10-6 mbar). While the ex-situ experiments suggest that SiH4-additives are needed for the reduction of the steel to a metallic state, the in-vacuum treatments appear successful for temperatures above approx. 900 °C.