Trace alloying elements can significantly affect alloy performance. One example is the effect of residual Si content on the oxidation behavior of stainless steels. Small amounts of Si can form a continuous SiO2 layer at the metal-oxide scale interface. This is beneficial for enhancing oxidation resistance; however it is detrimental for fuel cell interconnect application, as SiO2 is an electrical insulator. In order to assess the effect of SiO2 on the performance of Type 430 ferritic steel, a potential interconnect alloy, a series of custom 430 alloys were melted and reduced to sheet with controlled Si contents (ranging from <0.01 to 0.1 wt% Si). Oxidation tests were conducted at 800oC in moist air. The behavior was compared to a commercial Type 430 alloy (with 0.4 wt%Si) and Crofer 22APU. It was found that for the 430 alloys, the oxidation rate increased with decreasing Si content. However, after 4000 hour of exposure, the mass gain for the low Si 430 alloys was comparable to Crofer 22APU.
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