Adhesion of thermal oxide scales grown on ferritic stainless steels measured using the inverted blister test

The inverted blister test was used to study the adhesion of chromium-rich oxide scales thermally grown on several ferritic stainless steels. With this technique, a quantitative determination of the adhesion energy of the oxide on its substrate was possible. The adhesion energy is found to vary between 3 and 170 J m−2 depending on the specimens. It appears that the parameters influencing adhesion are oxide thickness and the nature of the minor alloying elements present in the alloy. The microstructural observation of both sides of the oxide/alloy interface after debonding provides important information on adhesion and spallation.