Structure and corrosion resistance of oxides grown on maraging steel in steam at elevated temperatures

The microstructure of oxides formed on 250 maraging steel in steam at elevated temperatures was established. The coating consisted of at least two sub-layers, an innermost layer of austenitic phase and a layer of magnetite Fe3O4. When low loads of steel were used, a third top layer of hematite Fe2O3 was found. The coating provides good protection against atmospheric corrosion, which was significantly better than phosphating.