Corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steel separator for molten carbonate fuel cell

STS310S and SC-STS310S (simultaneously co-deposited chromium and aluminum onto 310S austenitic stainless steel substrate by pack-cementation process) were used as separator materials on the cathode side of a molten carbonate fuel cell. With the STS310S, corrosion proceeded via three steps; a formation step of unstable corrosion product, a protection step against corrosion until breakaway, and an advance step of corrosion after breakaway. The final corrosion product was LiFeO2 and the loss of mass was 6.5 mg/cm2 after a corrosion test of 480 hr at 650°C. The SC-STS310S showed more effective corrosion resistance, however, than did common STS310S. There was especially no corrosion loss on the SC-STS310S after the 480 hr corrosion test. It is anticipated that it will be very useful as an alternative separator on the cathode side off the MCFC in the future.