Influence of nitridation on the oxidation of a 304 steel at 800 °C

This paper presents a study on the oxide growth on a AISI 304 chromia-forming alloy, in air at 800 °C. After the nitridation treatment was performed on the steel surface, a γ_N solid solution is detected. In this case, no nitride formation in the alloy surface could be observed. In situ X-ray diffraction has been used to follow the oxides evolution at testing temperature. At the beginning of the oxidation test, CrN is formed together with Fe₂O₃. Nevertheless, Cr₂O₃ quickly appears and leads to a protective oxide scale formation growing according to a parabolic rate law. During oxidation in situ X-ray diffraction also shows that Fe₂O₃ is transformed into FeCr₂O₄. Our results show that nitridation increases the high temperature oxidation resistance of 304 steels at 800 °C.