High-temperature resistance of the austenitic stainless steels used for exhaust systems in cars with combustion engines

The studies were carried out on two types of austenitic stainless steels, type 1.4404 and 1.4301 respectively. These two types of steels are applied in production of exhaust systems installed in cars with combustion engines. Investigations of these steels consisted in determining their resistance to high-temperature oxidation under thermal shock conditions. It has been shown that steels under discussion have good resistance against oxidation at high temperatures. It was found that scales formed during oxidation contain iron as well as chromium oxides and have a layered structure.