Early Steps of Pore Formation During Stainless Steel Oxides Reduction with Hydrogen at 1373 K (1100 °C)

International audienceA 10-µm-thick oxide scale covering an austenitic stainless steel has been reduced with hydrogen at 1373 K (1100 °C) to study the resulting porosity. Multiple methods of characterization have been employed on samples with the reduction time ranging from 5 seconds to 30 minutes. Focus has been placed on short durations to highlight the different steps occurring during the reduction. Three main steps have been observed, leading to micrometer scale porosity. The process is regarded as a potential new method for creating metal porous surfaces