In this study austenitic stainless steels (300 series) were coated at temperatures in the 600 -850°C range under an inert atmosphere. Different halide activators e.g. chlorides includingaluminum chloride andammonium chloride; fluorides includingaluminum fluoride and a complex activator (cryolite)were utilized in the packs The effect of activator type on coating thickness and morphology was studied.Coating microstructures were analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Mass changes and microhardnessprofilesweredetermined to further characterize the coating. In the case of UNS S30400 sodium chloride cryolite and sodium fluorideproducedthin coatingswhile aluminum and ammonium chloridesproduced thicker coatingsfor the same coatingtemperature and time. The effectiveness of the activators wasrelated totheir thermodynamic stability.