X-Ray Diffraction Study of Oxide Scales Formed at High Temperatures on AISI 304 Stainless Steel After Cerium Deposition.

High-resolution X-ray diffraction has been usedto characterize the structure of oxide scales grownduring oxidation at 1173 K of cerium-modified stainlesssteels. The oxide scales consist of a mixture of Fe2O3 andCr2O3, as well as spinels. Severaloxidation treatments prior to cerium deposition havebeen applied. New phases, which are cerium-related,appear, depending on the preoxidation treatment. Bycomparing these results with previous ones onlanthanum-modified AISI 304 stainless steel, somepossible explanations for the reactive-element effectare proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]