The oxide layers formed on 9CrODS have been characterized using synchrotron radiation fluorescence
and diffraction. This analysis showed a three-layer structure with an outer layer containing only Fe3O4,
an inner layer containing a mixture of FeCr2O4 and Fe3O4, and a diffusion layer containing a mixture of
metal grains and FeCr2O4 precipitates. A Cr2O3 ribbon formed at the diffusion layer-metal interface on
the samples exposed to 600ºC supercritical water for 4 and 6 weeks. Calculations of the oxidation
behavior were undertaken to calculate the activation energy and the corrosion rate constant n of power
law kinetics. These calculations showed that the oxidation behavior of this alloy could not be described
by a power law because the oxide microstructure changed with exposure time and temperature.
Additionally, the outward flow of iron was calculated and showed that not enough iron migrates
outwards to be able to form the outer layer suggesting that other mechanisms might be at work. Finally,
a qualitative description of the oxidation behavior of 9CrODS is displayed showing the importance of
the role played by Cr2O3 in the corrosion process.
Key words: corrosion, supercritical water, oxide dispersion strengthened steel, oxidation