High temperature low cycle fatigue properties of 24Cr ferritic stainless steel for SOFC applications

The low cycle fatigue (LCF) properties of 24Cr ferritic stainless steel for solid oxide fuel cell interconnects were investigated. The fatigue strength of 24Cr stainless steel decreased with increasing temperature, but the fatigue life increased at 600 °C and 700 °C. The fatigue behavior at room temperature (RT) was characterized as cyclic hardening followed by saturation and cyclic softening while marginal cyclic hardening was observed at 600 °C and 700 °C. The superior oxidation resistance of 24Cr stainless steel allows preventing the fatal impact of oxidation on the high-temperature fatigue life. Microstructural analysis showed that persistent slip bands (PSBs) developed prevalently at RT but not at 600 °C and 700 °C. Such temperature-dependent microstructural difference retarded the crack initiation and prolonged fatigue life at high temperatures.